The brilliant rainbow-lights with its myriad hues outshine the black and white of zebras; the frame outlined with a blood-red marker makes the ‘picture’ perfect. ‘Light Creations’, an exhibition and photo projection conducted at Press Club Hall by Paris-based artist and spiritual guru Yoa, created a kaleidoscopic play of light and imagery. In his palatable display of surrealistic photographs, Yoa managed to capture the sheer power of light and its immense possibilities. The surrealistic-fantasy ringing in his luscious pictures languishingly takes you away from the real world, despite, its subjects being giraffes, zebras and many other nature’s wonders. The collage of images and light are used intelligently to balance each other in their depiction.
“For me an artist is a person who is in communion with the source of inspiration. Art should serve to expand the beauty in us all. It has to raise our souls in heights just like Victor Hugo did for poetry,” says Yoa.
Yoa has been in connection with the invisible world of spirituality ever since he was a child. He serves as a intermediary between nature and man with his works. Yoa says nature’s beauty has to be worshipped rather than taken for granted, thus more can be discovered from its valour. Hence, his works open a spiritual world of creativity that enhances our senses beyond our deeply rooted philosophies and beliefs.
“We could identify photography with Zen teaching because contemplating a subject can cause inner enlightenment,” says Yoa.
While some images are saturated and deeply altered, some do keep its original lights and forms, whilst bringing an all new perspective to photography. Yoa’s photographs are fantastical and celestial at first glance, but with detailed inspection one could easily identify its deep rooted realism and spirituality. These photographs do leave the viewers with a cathartic and serene sensation.
“I do not approach a flower as I approach an insect; just the same way my perspective of tree will be different from a rock. Each object has a story to tell us so taking a photograph of these objects are events to seize,” says
For Valérie Damville, who Yoa considers her spiritual guru, Yoa’s photographs are reflections of the brilliant light he has within him and his inner mirth and beauty are easily visible in them. Yoa, who is also a musician, is planning to revisit Kerala in November with his team of disciples to endorse his spirituality, art and music.
“Meeing an artist means penetrating into his shrine as a painter, writer, poet, musician, sculptor or a photographer,” says Yoa.