My name is Joel, a fine arts painter from the Bronx living in Brooklyn, NY., and the creator of Yukiyuel, an art, writing and music brand. The name Yukiyuel means son of the God Yukiyu, god of the mountains. This brand combines indigenous roots with modern culture.
My artwork is a unique style that comes from my experience with art history, street art from NYC, and connecting to my Taino ancestors. I've connected to Taino culture by studying it, visiting Puerto Rico, and doing existential meditation— imagining what it would be like to be a Taino.
Using everything I've experienced and learned from, I tap into the mentality of being an "original person"— a meditative state that helps me connect what I want to express to the medium and the surface, starting from a state of openness.
My process begins with ballpoint pen drawings that break down figures into essential line forms and symbols. This goes back to my origins with art, making sketches while taking notes in class. I love those spontaneous creative moments— drawing freely to stimulate my mind and enjoy without pressure.
My first series is called "Ten Symbols" for which I chose ten things to paint in my style.
The chosen subjects are all significant to Nuyorican Culture, my own life, or art history. Pigeons, stray dogs, and coquis are animals that famously represent NYC or Puerto Rico. The Timberland boot is a classic NYC object. Portraits of women, nude women, and oneself have been a classic subject for most painters when studying art history. Still-lifes are also a classic subject so I include Quenepas— a treasured treat sold on the sides of highways in Puerto Rico. The sun and the coqui are both essential Taino Art symbols. The tiger logo is from tiger balm which I used to look at when my grandmother would get it in care packages from her brother in Puerto Rico.
Within each piece I include recurring iconic shapes as motifs. Stars, the first cosmic creators, are my main motif for the series— reflecting humanity's fascination with the stars. Other prominent shapes in the series are water drops (water— the origin of biological life on Earth), hearts (the first sign of life in the womb, and represent love), and parabolas (in this series represent the motion that started the universe).
I approach the drawing stage with the most potential— feeling as though I'm carving the piece into stone like the Tainos and other Aboriginal people did. Those drawings are on the drawing studies page. The paintings then come to life with schemes that play colors and shapes off each other to interact spiritually. Scroll down to see the series!
My work has been seen on the streets of New York City and in various local shows. Please message me using my contact page or at yukiyuel@yukiyuel.com with any questions, comments or requests.
