After Ago

“AFTER AGO” is an ode to an arch, a tribute to a city, an elegy of lost souls, altogether converted to emotional fantasy objects, transmitting functionality however remaining timeless and sculptural.

It’s a hybrid collection inspired from the metaphorical Postmodernism/Memphis movement with a twist of graceful Art Deco lines assorted to monolithic Brutalism sobriety. Always trying to promote exactly how using simple lines can create an infinite range of objects constantly thoughtful and minimal.

“AFTER AGO” is handcrafted and painted using multiple materials such as foam, lightweight concrete plaster, acrylic and stone ware/clay.

Experimenting through sketching, rotating and flipping arches evokes transformational prominent and bold shapes using different geometrical procedures such as inserting, intersecting, extruding, and detracting, these tools assist the process of embracing the splendor of the curves…Generating a seat, a shelving unit, a table, a tray, a vase etc…

The alteration between drawn black and white stripes on each side of the object translate a dramatic illusion of the internal and spatial chaos , Black color is mysterious it is associated with the unknown future, the undesirable or sad past while the white is considered to be the color of serenity and safety. Black traps space, while white opens space. Black evokes sophistication the white communicates innocence and renewed beginnings.

The objects induce an emotional alteration of the self, sad/happy, mad/sane, anxious/calm, death/life hate/love…., just like the fascinating history of my city Beirut with its multiple lives and layers throughout centuries yet after each disaster it always rises from the ashes longing for eternal life.

Richard Yasmine