b. 1977
Lives and works in Tel Aviv, Israel
Guy Yanai (b. 1977) ’s paintings are characterized by bold colors, simplified shapes, and a flattened depth of field. In his work, the banal is reduced to geometric segments in a stripping away of references to the tangible world in favor of a visual experience that is more akin to digital imagery – drawing landscapes images from his wanderings around the globe, or French filmography scenes which he reminiscences through, for example. He often chooses everyday objects and spaces as his subjects, flattening and abstracting them in a way that seems removed and objective. Yanai has cited numerous sources of inspiration – from old, modern, and contemporary masters to digital imagery, television, and advertisements – and his simplified representations may serve as a way to condense and organize the multitude of data we receive in reference to any person, place, or thing into concise representations with tight compositions.
Some of Yanai’s recent solo exhibition includes 《Guy Yanai: Blue Hour》(SEOJUNG ART, Seoul, Korea, 2023). Additionally, he participated in many group exhibitions such as 《The Body Electric》(Larsen Warner, Stockholm, Sweden, 2024) and 《Enivrez-vous》(Praz Delavallade, Paris, France, 2022).