

Art Hall - A4
Listen to the artist's voice
Look at the artist's expression
Read the artist's mind
The BIEAF is with artists.
Gallery 07
BIEAF2026 - From SUN To BOY
World Artist
Invitation Exhibition
BIEAF Steering Committee announces BIEAF2026 participants. 848 artists were selected from 84 countries. The online exhibition will run from September 10, 2025 to February 28, 2026. During this period, offline exhibitions will be held at various galleries in Busan.
Gallery 07 Artists and Works Slide
You can mark hearts on your favorite artists and works.
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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Dr. Meena Baya
India
BIEAF 2026 – “From Sun to Boy” is an excellent international platform thatoffers artists an opportunity to share their creativity, emotions, and artisticexpressions with a global audience. It enables artists to move beyond theboundaries of their studios and engage with the wider world through theirwork.Art is a universal language that transcends borders, cultures, and languages. Itbrings people together, encourages dialogue, and fosters understandingthrough shared human experiences and creative expression.The theme “From Sun to Boy” is especially relevant in today's world. It remindsus of the profound relationship between nature and humanity, highlighting theimportance of self-awareness, companionship, and our connection to thenatural world. The Sun symbolizes the source of energy, life, and creation,while the human journey reflects our continuous search for meaning,creativity, and expression.I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to BIEAF 2026 fororganizing this inspiring event. May it continue to encourage artistic dialogue,cultural exchange, and creative exploration on a global scale.
Dr. Meena Baya is a national and international acclaimed painter andprintmaker who hails from Rajasthan state of India. Her painting is a poetry in visual form having a stylised medley of human andvarious elements of nature. Her vibrant symbolic painting through soft anddelicate textures and layers create a novel visual vocabulary that expressesher childlike innocence and keen observations. Her palette is innovative andcomplex. Her paintings reflect her keen sensitivity to the natural world whichis all inclusive, giving her fluid perception of the tiniest of the being. Hermasterful fusion of realism which abstraction weave images that take us intorealm where we feel its powerful visceral impact. She has been exhibiting her paintings for over last 30 years in India andabroad having both solo and group exhibitions.She has also won a number of awards and fellowships that include Rajasthanstate award, fellowship by ministry of culture government of India, researchgrant from national Lalit kala academy, fellowship by British council and artcouncil of Wales, UK. Adding to her artistic contributions she has broadcastedart talks and her paintings have been used as illustrations in India today andother nation level reputed magazines. She continues her art practice to further expand her visual language.
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The source and seeker
Acrylic on Canvas 24 inches x 36 inches 2025
The Source and the Seeker is a symbolic portrayal of the journey of life,energy, and creativity from the Sun to human expression. The vibrant yellowcolor on the left side, behind the two bicycles, represents the Sun Goddess—the source of life, creation, and universal energy. Her radiant light nurturesnature, awakens new life, and inspires growth and renewal.The bicycles symbolize movement, vitality, and the journey of life. Green anddeep blue tones reflect the richness and abundance of nature, while the fish inthe water represents life and continuity. The blooming flowers signify newcreation, joy, and youthful energy.On the right side, a boy and his companion embody youthful spirit andoptimism. The boy represents the “Artistic Human”—a creative soul seeking toexpress the essence of nature. Receiving the light of the Sun Goddess, heenters a realm of imagination, creativity, and self-discovery. Their gentleexpressions and smiles reflect inner sensitivity, harmony, and humanconnection.The painting celebrates the flow of creative energy from the Sun, throughnature, and into the human spirit, where it finds expression through art,imagination, and life itself.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Dr. VIjay M Dhore
India
Vijay M. Dhore is an International Eminent Artist and Academician whoexplores the silent dialogue between memory, fragmentation, and humanexistence. Through layered abstraction, textured forms, and shifting light, hispaintings reveal the unseen emotions beneath reality, inviting viewers todiscover meaning within ambiguity and silence.
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Divine Light
Acrylic on Canvas 24 Inches x 30 Inches 2025
Divine Light reflects the presence of a sacred force that transcends form andmaterial existence. Through layered textures, fractured geometry, andluminous contrasts, the composition symbolizes the journey from darkness toenlightenment. Hidden forms emerge as expressions of spiritual awakening,inviting viewers to experience hope, inner peace, and the quiet radiance of thedivine that resides within every soul.
The theme "From Sun To Boy" for the 2026 Busan International EnvironmentArt Festival (BIEAF2026) presents a deeply thoughtful and poetic meditationon the relationship between cosmic creation and human artistic responsibility.At its heart, the theme establishes a sacred dialogue between two symbolicentities: the Sun, personified as a creative feminine archetype or Sun Goddessrepresenting the uncorrupted primordial genesis of the universe, and the Boy,who embodies Homo Aestheticus—the "Artistic Human" in constant pursuit ofexpressing nature's true essence. The narrative reaches its philosophical peakin the moment the Boy receives light from the Sun Goddess, stepping into abrand-new realm of creativity. This signifies that human art does not exist in avacuum, but is an inherited spark of the natural world. Rather than focusingsolely on environmental panic, the festival uses this imagery to establish anenduring global art movement. It positions the artist as a central protagonistand guardian of the planet, tasked with translating the nobility of naturethrough a profound, shared language that will resonate as history forgenerations to come.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Dr.Vandana Malhotra
India
Dr. Vandana Malhotra Paintings tell stories that words can’t structure. She paints her canvas with notjust paints but her emotions and feelings. Dr. Vandana Malhotra is the founderof Vandana Art Academy and Vandana Art Studio ,currently based inChandigarh .She is Doctorate (PHD ) in Applied Arts from one of reputedIndian University BHU, Varanasi. Growing up in Varanasi has given her avibrant outlook towards life which is seen in her art. She captures the soft,tender feel of the flowers, bringing joy of these beautiful creations life on hercanvas. She is an artist with vibrant outlook towards life ,which can be easilyseen & felt through her abstract paintings. A look at her paintings gives onepeace & relaxation. These qualities of her has made her a proud recipients ofrewards & recognition both at National & International level. Thus to spreadher feelings, she is actively participating in more then 95national & abovemore than 40 international Group exhibitions & Solo Exhibitions. One of herrecent work is proudly hangs in the house of Princess Khendum Dorji , Aunt ofKing of Bhutan ,her other works have now found home in Gurgaon, Delhi ,Chandigarh ,in India & even countries like Morocco, Albania, ,Ecuador, UK,Italy, Bhutan ,Spain, Myanmar and USA.
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Dialogue with Nature
Acrylic on canvas
1-12”z12”, 2-12”x18” 2025, 2026
My practice is rooted in an ongoing dialogue with nature, which serves as bothsubject and source of inspiration. I explore the rhythms and contrasts inherentin the natural world, using shifts in colour, form, and texture to evoke a rangeof emotional states—from softness and stillness to intensity and movement.Working across both realistic and abstract modes, I move fluidly betweenrepresentation and interpretation. This dual approach allows me to capturenot only the visible aspects of nature but also its underlying energy andemotional resonancePainting 1 - Dialogue with Nature , Acrylic on Canvas, size -12”x12”.Painting-2 Dialogue with Nature,Size -12”x18”,Medium-Acrylic on Canvas .

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Dragos Bagia
Croatia
Tell us about BIEAF2026 'From Sun To Boy' :
La temática "Del sol al niño" nos habla de la transmisión y la herencia entregeneraciones.El resplandor amarillo que emerge en la base de la composición evoca el calorprimordial del sol, elevándose hasta encontrarse con un rostro humanosumido en una profunda reflexión. Sobre él, una estructura azul, compleja yarmoniosamente organizada, representa el ecosistema de pensamientos,valores, entornos y desiciones que llegamos a quienes nos suceden.La obra nos invita a mirar más allá de las fronteras inmediatas y a iluminarnuestra consciencia colectiva, recordándonos la responsabilidad de construiry preservar un mundo capaz de transmitir esperanza, conocimiento yhumanidad.
Dragos Bagia es un artista autodidacta de la ciudad de Constanza, Rumania,cuya pasión por la pintura comenzó en la infancia. Sin formación académicaformal en bellas artes, desarrolló su talento a través de la dedicación personal,la investigación y la experimentación artística. Su producción combina elementos figurativos y abstractos, empleando confrecuencia técnicas mixtas sobre madera o lienzo. Su obra refleja un profundointerés por la filosofía esotérica, la religión y las tradiciones místicas. Es artista del Museo Internacional Don Armando S. Reschini de ArteContemporáneo. Dónde su obra se integra al acervo estable internacional. Su arte se presenta como una herramienta para iluminar la mente y estimularla reflexión sobre aquello que se encuentra más allá de la percepciónordinaria, integrado fantasías, sueños y conocimiento sagrado en un lenguajevisual singular y profundamente simbólico.
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Musafir
Mixta sobre lienzo 50x40cm 2019
Está obra titulada "Musafir", palabra que en idioma rumanonsignica viajero, esuna pieza de arte contemporáneo de carácter surrealista. A través de unapaleta dominada por tonos amarillos y violetas, la composición presenta elretrato de una mujer ubicado en el centro de la escena.
La imagen evoca una atmósfera onírica inspirada en el simbolismo, invitandoal espectador a sumergirse en un universo de misterio y reflexión.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Duong Nguyen Anh
Việt Nam
Artist Biography (less than 150 words) Nguyen Anh Duong - Born in 1979 ko inQuang Tri,Viet Nam, lives and works in Quang Tri, Vietnam. ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES BIOGRAPHY The passion for artistic creation is a great motivation for him to enter the pathof art and work professionally.With his life experiences, with all his heart, he has created works of art in theschool of conceptual art. His paintings are about human life, the beauty ofnature, creativity, promoting the value of women's beauty, ... are long stories drawn. His works always aim for beauty, truth, and goodness in life, helping peoplelive with positive goals, love life, be optimistic, respect themselves andappreciate everything that nature has given them. He has participated in exhibitions at home and abroad;8/2019 Exhibition of the North Central region of Vietnam .7/2023 Community art exhibition of the Rung Xoè group in Vietnam .2/2024 International art exhibition in Malaysia4/2024 Exhibition of the Asian Artists Alliance in Vietnam .8/2024 Summer exhibition 2024 at Tuan Chau Vietnam8/2024 Exhibition of the North Central region of Vietnam .9/2024 International Art Exhibition in Malaysia11/2024Asian Artists Alliance Exhibition in Cambodia04/2025 International Art Exhibition in Vietnam02/2026 International Art Exhibition in India
Art brings people closer together. Especially in general, art creation andpainting brings people closer to life. "Life" is my collection about the conceptof life's. Each of us lives in a world that is constantly changing; that is the law oflife's movement. It's important for people to know how to adapt to nature, soas not to fall behind or be left behind. To see, to know, to see everything asnormal. To accept everything that happens, coming and going, gain and loss,to find life light and peaceful. Using mixed media lacquer and old sea nets, thevisual art effect has brought a high impact to the concept of "life" . The story of"Life" is a reflection on my own life through contemporary painting. Viewersare not led by the artist's subjective interpretation, but they can see in eachwork in the collection many philosophies of "Life" .This is my “ Life” collection . Thank

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Life
Mix lacquer on canvas
212cm x 131cm 2026
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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Ed Hanssen
The Netherlands
Ed Hanssen, Nunhem, The Netherlands born 1962. I studied at MaastrichtAcademy of art and I exhibited countless times. Besides painting and drawingI initiated artprojects like Genuine Art Projects international,projectmailartbooks and used coffeefiltermailart among others.
Tell us about BIEAF2026 'From Sun To Boy' :
Everybody needs a spark to create art, peace, love, understanding. Why notthe sun? Why not a boy or girl? The sooner the spark hits your heart, thelonger it stays and continues to grow in strengh.
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Carry the weight
Acrylic, conté and pastelchalk on paper
27x36 cm 2026

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Eder Trespalacios Rivera
Colombia
Soy artista Colombiano y participé en la anterior Bienal
Description of the work :
Es una obra Artística como mensaje para lograr paz y convivencia pacífica enel mundo.
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NO WAR
Acrilico sobre Cartón artesanal 35 x 25 cms 2024

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Eduarte Gámez Aroca
Colombia
A talented, self-taught Colombian visual artist, he is known for his in-depthexploration of Renaissance art. His work, imbued with technical skill andpassion, reflects a unique fusion of the classical and the contemporary.Inspired by masters such as Velázquez and Caravaggio, Gámez Aroca createscaptivating compositions that defy time and space. With more than twodecades of artistic experience, he has captivated national and internationalaudiences through virtual and in-person exhibitions, establishing himself as aprominent voice in the contemporary art scene.
Description of the work :
“Wings of Hope” is a work that evokes the purity of the soul and the harmonybetween human innocence and nature. A white dove in flight, a universalsymbol of peace, freedom, and hope.
The flower-filled landscape stretches beneath a sky tinged with the warmcolors of sunset, creating a dreamlike atmosphere where the light seems toembrace every element of the scene. The delicate pink tones of the dresscontrast with the intensity of the sky, highlighting the figure’s sweetness andsensitivity.
The young woman’s expression conveys a blend of tenderness, reflection, andconfidence in the future, while the dove represents dreams taking flighttoward new horizons.
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Wings of Hope
Oil on canvas 55 x 91 cm 2026

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BIEAF2025 Invited Artist
Edwige Bregent Hopfner
France
Deeply influences by surrealism, expressionism and prêtre, Edwige BregentHopfner often empressés her émotions through dreamlike worlds.Printmaking allows her to explore the représentation of émotions throughunconventional supports, matériels and texture
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The savoir of depths
Engraving carborundum collagraph
50x70cm 2026
This work adresses the damage causes by plastic western and intensivefishing to marine Flora and faune. A fish is trappes on a carpet of plastic andnets.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Edyta Lasota
Poland
The artist holds a degree in fine arts and is an exhibiting artist. Her techniquesinclude drawing, patina, gouache, and watercolor. She draws inspiration fromtranslations of 18th- and 19th-century literature, as well as from ancientapocryphal texts and the Bible. Her work, in its various forms, explores themeaning of existence and embodies a direct connection to Mother Earth andthe Creator. In the scenes depicted in her works, she alludes to the strugglebetween good and evil, drawing attention to the values engraved in our hearts—such as respect, empathy, family, gratitude, the knowledge and wisdom ofour ancestors, unity with nature, and the preservation of tradition. The artistperceives small miracles in life, which are like light dispelling the darkness orthe grayness of the day. Through the use of symbolism in her work, she alsodraws attention to the impact of corrupt individuals on the fabric of society asa whole.
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AIRATRAT 1
Ink and watercolors 100x70 2025
A monochromatic ink testament to the fleeting and the eternal. At its hearthangs a fractured clock, guarded by two winged sentinels of stone andshadow, keeping watch over a moment forever caught in the balance. Above, asilent dove ascends through a celestial rift, suspended between the weepingeye of a pale moon and the blinding, radiant gaze of a personified sun.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Eimaan Aslam
Pakistan
Eimaan Aslam likes to explore the bounds of femininity, combining neon pinks,laces and doilies to portray the absurdity of masking intensity and morbiditywith a very feminine exterior. She has a bachelor's in Fine Arts from COMSATS.
Description of the work :
I chose the subject of a hare, relating it to the sense of feeling ashamed ofone's own existence. Hares, with their crazy eyes, tucked in heads, andmadness in their movements, look like they are apologizing to God, for being ashameful creation, but somehow they still can't help not acting crazy.
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Apology
Acrylic on canvas
30x12, 10x5.5, 10x5.5 2026
I chose the subject of a hare, relating it to the sense of feeling ashamed ofone's own existence. Hares, with their crazy eyes, tucked in heads, andmadness in their movements, look like they are apologizing to God, for being ashameful creation, but somehow they still can't help not acting crazy.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
EL MOUDDEN AYOUB
Morocco
Artistic Biography Ayoub ElmouddenVisual artist, born on September 11, 1995, in Casablanca. Founder of the Fine Arts Club at the Deroua Youth Center, active since 2015. Solo, Collective, and Virtual Exhibitions (International) 2026: Exhibition at the Busan International Art Festival (BIAF), Republic ofKorea. 2025: National Fine Arts Forum in Ben Ahmed — January 28 to February 22. 2024: 9th Edition of the GOO International Festival, Heungmang Art Museum,South Korea — October 1. 2024: Exhibition organized by the Sidi Belyout District celebrating the WorldDay for Cultural Diversity — May 16 to 25. 2024: National Exhibition at the Sidi Maârouf Cultural Complex — May. 2024: National Exhibition organized by the Sidi Belyout District celebratingInternational Women's Rights Day — March 8. 2024: Collective Exhibition organized by the Henda Blanca Association on theoccasion of Women's Day — March 4 to 10. 2024: Moroccan Youth Fine Arts Forum in Ben Ahmed — January 23 to 31. 2024: Lecture on Arabic Calligraphy and Art Education, Regional Center forEducation and Training Professions (CRMEF) — Sidi Bennour. 2023: BIAF International Festival in Busan, South Korea — October 10. 2023: Exhibition at the Abdellah Ganoun Cultural Center — July 8 to 15. 2023: "World of Absolute Art" Artistic Gathering in Borg Al Arab, Egypt. 2022: Collective Exhibition at the Socio-Sporting Complex of Nouaceur —February 25 and 26. 2021: International Geopark Gathering in Azilal — April 18 to May 15. 2020: Virtual Exhibition organized by the Institute of Roh El-Fann, Egypt —June 26. 2020: Virtual Exhibition at the Academic Institute for Continuing Education,Iraq — June 26. 2020: Virtual Exhibition by the Forum of Cultural Issues in Morocco — June 25to 27. 2020: Virtual Exhibition organized by the Ministry of National Culture in Irbid,Jordan — May 25. 2020: Online Exhibition organized by the Ennakhil Fine Arts Association,Marrakech — April 25. 2020: Academic International Exhibition of Arts and Media (Online) — April 15. 2020: Virtual Exhibition by the Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University,Meknes — June 10 to 17. 2020: Virtual Exhibition organized by the Abdelkader El Husseiny CulturalCenter, Egypt — June 14 to 20. 2020: Virtual Exhibition at Moulay Ismail University, Meknes — April 17 to June20. 2020: Virtual Exhibition by the Hawajis Foundation, Iraq — April 1. 2020: 9th Artistic Gathering organized by the Boukili Foundation (Online) —April 1. 2020: "Chadou" Egyptian International Forum (Virtual) — April. 2017: Collective Exhibition at the Deroua Youth Center — May 20 and 21. 2017: Cultural Week at the Deroua School — March 21 to 25. 2016: National Used Book Fair in Casablanca — June 16 to July 16. 2016: National Festival of Deroua — January 1, 2, and 3. 2015: Young Artist Exhibition at the Deroua Youth Center — April 18. Undated: Virtual Exhibition organized by the Tangier Branch of the MoroccanUnion of Visual Artists. Awards and Distinctions Winner of the "Best Young Arab Artist" Award in the Modern Realism category,presented in London by The ARAB Group. Royal Recognition: Honored by the At-Taaouon Association and the MunicipalCouncil of Deroua on the occasion of the Throne Day (2024). 2 / 4 Diploma of Excellence: Awarded by the Nasma Al Wafa and Al Sadaqaassociations in recognition of outstanding artistic achievements. Special Distinction: Honored during the 1st Orientation Day organized by theAssociation for Education, Teaching, and Social Development — May 22-23,2021. Artistic Mentorship Award: Honored by the administration of Jawhar Derouafor providing artistic workshops and training in press illustration and fine artsfor students. Artistic Mentorship & Leadership Director and Mentor of the Fine Arts Club at the Deroua Youth Center acrossthe following academic years: 2015 / 2016 2016 / 2017 2017 / 2018 2018 / 2019 2019 / 2020 2020 / 2021 2021 / 2022 3
The Relationship Between the Painting and the International Exhibition'sTheme: "From the Sun to the Child" Connecting this painting to the conceptual framework of the internationalexhibition, themed "From the Sun to the Child," opens up a profoundphilosophical and analytical horizon. This dialectical relationship can bedeconstructed through three core thematic axes that link the symbolism ofthe "Gnawa Master" to the duality of "the Sun" and "the Child": 1. The Journey of Consciousness and Transition (From the Absolute to Manifestation) The Sun as a Symbol of the Absolute and the Source: In Sufi and cosmicphilosophies, the "Sun" represents the primordial source of light, the ultimatetruth, and the supreme spiritual energy that permeates the universe. The Child as a Symbol of Onset and Purity: The "Child" embodies the stage ofinitial wonder, innate purity, and a readiness to receive knowledge. It is theentity beginning its exploratory journey through life, illuminated by the sun'slight. The Painting as a Bridge Between Them: The "Gnawa Master" in AyoubElmoudden's painting embodies the state of a spiritual mediator. Through thetrance of Sufi music, he absorbs the universe's higher energy (the light of thesun/the transcendent spirit) and translates it into primitive, pure rhythms andmelodies that mirror the innocence and instinct of the "Child." He representsthe eternal return to spiritual childhood and primordial purity through thegateway of mysticism. 2. Chromatic Structure: The Duality of Light and Genesis The Presence of the Sun (The Radiant Background): Despite the dominance ofblue, the swirling brushstrokes bursting with bright yellow, vibrant green, andwhite in the background—and within the core of the Qraqeb—reflect the heatof the "Sun" as a kinetic and sonic force. The Presence of the Child (Primitive Expression): The red headpiece (Chachia)adorned with white cowrie shells, combined with expressive lines that vergeon artistic spontaneity, echoes elements of Naïve or raw art (Art Naïf). Thisstylistic choice directly connects to the spirit of the "Child," who perceives theworld with a visual clarity unburdened by rigid academic rules. 3. Mystical Trance as a Continuous Rebirth In Gnawa culture and Sufism in general, the Jadhba (trance) or Wajd (ecstasy)is considered a major cathartic process. The individual enters a state of self-annihilation regarding their earthly ego, only to emerge "newborn." Here, the circle becomes complete: From the Sun (the source of energy,cosmos, and heat that drives the night of the trance) to the Child (the purifiedhuman being who emerges from the ritual chants cleansed—a peaceful childwho has reclaimed his original nature and inner peace).
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The Spiritual Resonance of a Gnawa Master
Canva /métal 120/85 2026
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Art Critique: The Spiritual Resonance of a Gnawa Master In this captivating painting, the Moroccan visual artist Ayoub Elmouddentakes us deep into the mysticism and trance of Gnawa culture. Through anexpressive portrait infused with Sufi spirituality, the artist does not merelydepict the features of a musician; he visually embodies the unseen energy andvibrations emanating from Gnawa music. 1. Composition and Mixed-Media Technique The artwork stands out immediately for its vibrant, almost raw expressionisticstyle, where textures play a pivotal role. The artist's reliance on mixed medialends the piece a striking depth: The Red Headpiece (The Chachia): Rendered with a dense, textured medium,it is adorned with white cowrie shells arranged in a geometric pattern, creatinga powerful contrast with the fluid brushstrokes throughout the rest of thecanvas. The dangling black tassel (Shousha) introduces a strong verticalbalance and a grounding physical presence. The Sacred Instruments: Prominently featured on the figure's chest are theQraqeb (the iron castanets that drive the Gnawa rhythm). They seem to mergeand fuse with the character's attire, suggesting that the performer and hisinstrument form a single, inseparable entity. The Treatment of the Garment: The intricate motifs and intertwined lines atthe bottom of the robe emulate traditional embroidery, while simultaneouslyresembling organic shapes or wisps of incense smoke rising into the ritualspace. 2. Color Palette and the Energy of Trance The background is a vortex of color dominated by deep blues, whites, andtouches of yellow and vibrant green. These powerful, swirling brushstrokesare by no means accidental; they are a visual manifestation of the music itself—the soundwaves of the Gnawa Lila (night of trance) engulfing thesurrounding space. The color blue evokes the celestial and spiritual dimensions, while alsosymbolizing one of the Mloul (the rhythmic spirits/colors) in the trance ritual.Meanwhile, the intense red of the Chachia and the sleeve anchors the viewer'sattention to the earthly and vital dimension. 3. The Sufi Gaze: Between Presence and Absence The face is rendered in a style that approaches modern expressionism,blending shades of green, beige, and blue. This aesthetic choice distances theportrait from photographic realism, elevating the subject to the status of aspiritual icon. Despite the simplicity and abstraction of the eyes, they pierce the viewer witha gaze full of serenity and mystical ecstasy (Wajd). The Maâlem (Master)appears physically present, yet his soul drifts through another ether, entirelysurrendered to the rhythm of Sufi Gnawa music. Conclusion Through this painting, the artist successfully bridges the gap betweenauthentic Moroccan heritage and contemporary modern art. By capturing thesacred essence of Gnawa music, he delivers a powerful, hauntingly rhythmicmasterpiece where medium and color unite to make the canvas speak andsing.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Elechi Ololo
Nigeria
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Elechi Williams Ololo's practice is situated at the intersection of sculpturalabstraction and cultural archaeology. Working primarily in mixed media oncanvas, Ololo investigates the tactile transmission of memory, language, andstructural rhythm. His canvases function not merely as flat pictorial planes, butas dimensional topographies where heavy impasto, gesso relief, and vibrantpigment configurations converge to form a distinct contemporary visualvocabulary.
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Inheritance
Acrylic/ mixed media 40cm x 45cm 2026
”Inheritance “ is a powerful testament to Ololo’s signature sculptural approachto painting, utilizing profound relief and geometric compartmentalization. Thework operates as a cosmic or architectural portal, where a central triptych ofdiamond emblems sits suspended between fluid, wave-like currents and ahighly organized, polychromatic grid of tightly packed columns. The lowerregister is anchored by a commanding, deep indigo field etched with starkwhite glyphs that carry the weight of monumental inscriptions. Balancingthese cooler tones are intense, visceral blocks of orange and red texture alongthe periphery, interacting with minimalist pictographs on the left. Ololo’srigorous manipulation of medium transforms the canvas into a sacredtopography, offering international audiences a profound meditation onstructure, language, and spiritual geometry.
BIEAF2026 stands for the 23rd Busan International Environment Art Festival,an enduring global art movement hosted in Busan, South Korea. To create under the banner of "From the Sun to the Boy," you have to look pastthe gallery walls. For me, this theme isn't just a prompt; it is a profound timeline ofresponsibility. When I stand in my studio, "the sun" represents the absolutebeginning—the raw, blinding energy that sparks all life, all color, and allcreation on our planet. It’s magnificent, but it's also massive and distant.My job as an artist is to catch that immense light and channel it down to thescale of "the boy." To me, the boy represents the future, but he also represents vulnerability. Heis a reminder of why we are making this art in the first place. We aren't justpainting pretty landscapes or sculpting abstract warnings about climatechange; we are trying to preserve human innocence. Every brushstroke ortexture I use is an attempt to translate the massive, chaotic environmentalshifts happening under our sun into something intimate, emotional, anddeeply personal—something a child can look at and understand. Participating in BIEAF2026 feels less like a traditional exhibition and more likea global collective exhale. Knowing that my work will hang alongside piecesfrom artists in eighty different countries, all of us reaching for that sameconnection between cosmic energy and human survival, is incrediblygrounding. We are all using our own distinct visual languages—some violentand urgent, others quiet and hopeful—to say the exact same thing: What wedo with the light we are given today determines the world he inheritstomorrow.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
ELENA ALUPEI
Italy
The BIEAF2026 theme, "From Sun to Boy," deeply resonates with my artisticvision. I see the Sun as the origin of creative consciousness and the Boy as theartist who receives that light with wonder, authenticity, and courage. ThroughAlupeian Romantic Abstractionism, I explore this inner journey, wherecreativity becomes a path toward self-discovery, humanity, and the invisibleessence of nature.
Elena Alupei is an Italian contemporary artist, poet, and founder of AlupeianRomantic Abstractionism. Her work explores the invisible through abstraction,symbolism, and poetry, inviting viewers to experience art as an inner journeytoward beauty, contemplation, and self-discovery.
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Barefoot on the Clouds ("A piedi scalzi sulle nuvole" original Italian title)
Acrylic on Canvas 40x40cm 2025
Barefoot on the Clouds is the founding work of Alupeian RomanticAbstractionism. Inspired by the spiritual legacy of Kandinsky while expressingan independent artistic vision, it portrays the artist's first step toward creativelight. Walking barefoot symbolizes authenticity and courage, while theascending composition evokes the journey from the visible to the invisible,where imagination, contemplation, and the essence of human creativity areborn.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Elia Torrecilla Patiño
España
Elia Torrecilla is a Spanish visual artist and researcher whose practice exploresthe body as a space of memory, vulnerability and transformation throughperformance, moving image and digital media.
Tell us about BIEAF2026 'From Sun To Boy' :
I understand the theme as a journey of transformation rather than adestination. My work reflects that fragile passage, where identity iscontinuously reconstructed through presence, disappearance and memory.
Description of the work :
Threshold is a digital image derived from the documentation of aperformance. The body progressively loses its visual integrity, becomingunstable and fragmented without disappearing completely. The work exploresthe body as an unstable archive where memory, presence and identity remainin continuous transformation, questioning the limits between physicalexistence and digital representation.
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Threshold
Digital image 150 × 95 cm 2025
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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo
Philippines
The Sun to Boy Exhibition of BIEAF
The Sun to Boy Exhibition of BIEAF is a remarkable celebration of artisticvision, cultural dialogue, and the limitless power of creativity. Bringingtogether artists from diverse backgrounds, the exhibition reflects the journeyof light, hope, transformation, and human resilience through compelling visual narratives.
Each artwork serves as a unique voice, expressing personal stories whileconnecting with universal emotions that transcend borders. From vibrantcolors to thought-provoking compositions, the exhibition highlights therichness of contemporary artistic expression and the importance of art as abridge between cultures.
More than an exhibition, The Sun to Boy is an inspiring platform thatencourages understanding, collaboration, and appreciation of the arts. Itdemonstrates how creativity can illuminate perspectives, nurture compassion,and inspire positive change in society.
BIEAF continues its commitment to fostering international artistic exchangeby providing opportunities for artists to share their talents with a globalaudience. Through this meaningful initiative, the exhibition celebrates not onlyartistic excellence but also the enduring spirit of humanity that unites us allthrough the universal language of art.
Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo is an internationally acclaimed Filipino visual artist,poet, author, editor, and cultural advocate whose creative journey is deeplyrooted in the belief that art has the power to heal, inspire, and transform lives.As the Founder and CEO of Art Heals by Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo –MeraCreative Art Studio, she has dedicated herself to building a globalplatform that celebrates artistic excellence while promoting emotionalhealing, cultural exchange, and creative collaboration. A self-taught intuitive artist, Elizabeth embraces abstract expressionism andsurrealism as her primary artistic language. Her works are characterized byexpressive colors, symbolic imagery, and deeply personal narratives thatinvite viewers to reflect on resilience, hope, spirituality, and the humanexperience. Each painting becomes a visual conversation that transcendslanguage, encouraging emotional connection across cultures. Beyond the canvas, Elizabeth is an award-winning international author andpoet whose literary works have been published in hundreds of anthologiesand translated into numerous languages. Her passion for both literature andvisual arts has established her as a respected figure in the internationalcreative community. Through her leadership, she has curated exhibitions,literary collaborations, international magazines, and cultural initiatives thatunite artists and writers from around the world. Elizabeth also serves in various international cultural and artisticorganizations, championing the importance of creativity as a bridge betweennations and as a catalyst for compassion and understanding. Her unwaveringcommitment to nurturing emerging talents and creating meaningfulopportunities has earned her recognition as both an artist and an influentialcultural leader. Guided by faith, humility, and an enduring passion for the arts, ElizabethEsguerra Castillo continues to inspire audiences through works that celebratethe beauty of the human spirit. Her artistic legacy is one of hope, healing, andthe conviction that creativity can illuminate lives and foster a morecompassionate world.If you'd like, I can also create a more prestigious museum-style introduction ora more personal and poetic version.
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The Veil Where Angels Ascend
Mixed Media 36x36 2026
The Veil Where Angels Ascend depicts a mystical forest where the sun's raysemit positive energy giving life to all living things. Every living thing dependson the sun's magical power to be able to endure adversity, bad weather andclimate change.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Elsa Olga Chaves
Argentina
Profesora Filosofía Maestra de Arte Pintora Grabadora Gestora Cultural.
Exposiciones individuales/colectivas nacionales/internacionales.1er Premio Adquisición Concurso “Universo Sábato” UNICEN Tandil2015
1 º Mención Pintura Santa Fe 2016
2do Premio Salón Federal- Internacional Necochea2017Mención Pintura Salón Fogolar Mar del Plata, 2017
2do Premio Pintura Galería Gisel Durán Argentina 2021Special Mentions PREMIO GRÁFICAITALIANA 2021
1er Premio Pintura– AIBA- AYACUCHO- 2023 Argentina
2do Premio Grabado Salón Dibujo y Grabado - Jujuy 2023.
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PASEANDO POR EL BARRIO
Técnica Mixta 87X70 cm 2025
Serie pensada para un contemplador “con alma de niño”, realizada conmateriales sencillos. La composiciones responden a la cotidianidad del mundoinfantil de pequeñas poblaciones. La obra “Paseando por el barrio” en técnicamixta – colagraf/pintura acrílica- representa un recorrido habitual de los niñospor los alrededores de su contexto inmediato.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
ELSA VICTORIOS
USA / COLOMBIA
Acclaimed Colombian-American visual artist VICTORIOS blends abstractionand symbolic surrealism. Recognized by the University of Barcelona, she is aFort Lauderdale gallery owner and Co-Chairman of BIEAF.
Tell us about BIEAF2026 'From Sun To Boy' :
"Distinguished Founder and Director, Dr. Yousang Lee, honored guests, anddear artists from around the world:
My name is Elsa Victorios.
As Co-President of the Busan International Environmental ArtFestival, BIEAF2026 ,it is a profound honor to welcome you to our 23rd edition,under the theme 'From the Sun to the Boy.
'Having been part of this family since 2022, first as an artist and now as Co-President, supporting global creators is a mission I wish to pursue for the restof my life.
This great movement would not be possible without the tireless leadership ofDr. Yousang Lee, who has turned a dream into a global beacon for sustainableculture. Thanks to our international community, this year we are breaking allhistoric records with unprecedented participation.
Thank you for bringing your magic and environmental message to Busan.Let us enjoy this extraordinary festival together!"Thank you very much
Description of the work :
Aligned with 'From the Sun to the Boy', 'VICTORIOS' captures the moment myfather taught me to ride a bike—a metaphor for balance, trust, and freedom.The dynamic red path symbolizes his initial push into life, while bicyclesilhouettes echo a cherished past. Kites and balloons rising to the sky embodychildhood innocence and a father's protective guidance, mirroring the Sun.This artwork tributes living memory and family bonds that shape identity andharmonize through time.
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From Your Hands to the Light
Acrylic 76cm X 102cm 2025
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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
ELVIS DEYVIS LUNA DIAZ
México
I am Elvis Deyvis Luna Díaz, a self-taught visual artist born in Tabasco andbased in Palizada, Campeche. After eight years of formal career, I havedeveloped my own style fusing surrealism, abstraction, and figuration withvibrant colors. My work, which reflects a deep love for my town, has beenexhibited nationally and internationally in Mexico, Argentina, Peru, India, Iran,and South Korea (Geoje Art Festivals 2024/2025), always seeking authenticity.

GENESIS OF THE ARTISTIC HUMAN
Acrylic on reclaimed cellulose suppor
47.00 cm x 32.05 cm 2026
"In the womb of the cosmos, a child is nourished by the living and vibrantenergy of the Sun through their umbilical cord. Even though we are born withthe innate gift of protecting nature, today we disconnect from it. Parents mustguide this vision: we do not just live on Earth, we unite with its energy."

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Elzbieta Anna Sadkowski
Poland
ELŻBIETA ANNA SADKOWSKI
was born in Poland; scenographer, sculptor,painter and architect. Graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the CracowUniversity of Technology and Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow.She is the author of numerous set designs. He also deals with easel paintingand portrait sculpture. The artist’s paintings display a close relation to nature,its variability in reference to the seasons of the year, in the context of theawareness of the passage of time and being a part of the universe. Her artisticaccomplishments include numerous exhibitions and participation in severalinternational art salons. The artist’s works are included in theatre museumsand private collections in Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Brazil.
The artist’s range of interests includes the broadly defined humanistic attitudeto the condition of man in the modern world. In her set design projects,paintings, drawings and sculptures, Sadkowski searches for a bridge for thedialogue beyond the cultural and linguistic areas. This bridge is art.Creates in Poland and Switzerland.
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Generations - portrait sculpture
original sculpture in clay - plaster cast
width 50-60cm, height 60cm, depth 40 cm
2025, 2026
"Generations" – portrait sculptures made from a larger-than-life model. Theyare part of a larger project. All the individuals are frozen in time in the samestatic arrangement. In this frozen similarity, they build a form of group unity inthe representation, while simultaneously preserving individual diversity. Eachof the portrayed individuals, despite their apparent genotype of age and thesocio-geographical conditions of adolescence, is essentially interpreteddifferently as one delves deeper. This is evident in the sculptural tension oftheir facial features, in the gaze that engages with the viewer, in the silence oftheir lips.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Emelie Victor Anyaegbunam
Nigeria
Dr. Emelie Victor Anyaegbunam is a Nigerian contemporary artist whose worktransforms everyday experiences into powerful visual narratives. Throughexpressive compositions and rich symbolism, the artist explores identity,resilience, culture, and the human spirit

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LAGOS FROM AN EAGLE’S EYE
Acrylic on canvas 3ft by 4ft 2026
EYELagos from the Eagle’s Eye captures the city’s relentless energy from anelevated perspective, revealing its vibrant rhythm and complexity. The iconicyellow buses, bustling streets, colorful umbrellas, and dense skyline reflect theresilience, ambition, and interconnected lives of millions. Rather thandocumenting a single moment, the painting interprets the spirit of Lagos,where movement, hope, and opportunity converge despite daily challenges.
Tell us about BIEAF2026 'From Sun To Boy' :
“My work explores the journey of growth, identity, and transformation. Itreflects the passage from light, hope, and beginnings to the shaping of a boythrough life’s experiences, challenges, and dreams. It is a celebration ofresilience, humanity, and becoming.”

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In Praise of Shadows
Pigment print W1791*H1194 pixels 2025
The light filtering into the dark, quiet space is soft and gentle.Flashy colors and dazzling light sources inevitably become tiring.I do not know if this is due to age or simply a matter of preference.That is precisely why ”Jakko 寂光”(Serene Light)—this serene, quiet light—feels so comforting; it evokes a sense of returning to nature, and as aphotographer, it compels me to pursue the light as it is meant to be.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Emilia Barrientos
Puerto Rico
Emilia is a Puerto Rican visual artist whose practice explores the intersectionsof materiality, perception, and memory through abstraction. Working withcharcoal, pigments, and layered surfaces, she investigates how lighttransforms both matter and experience. Her work draws from personal ritualsof contemplation while engaging broader questions of presence,transformation, and the genealogy of seeing. Through her practice, shecontributes to the evolving language of contemporary material abstractionfrom a distinctly Caribbean perspective.
Description of the work :
Atardecer en el corazón explores light not as an image, but as a condition ofperception. Through powdered charcoal, pigments, and layered materiality,the work transforms an intimate ritual of contemplation into an experientialfield where memory remains active. Rather than representing a sunset, itpreserves the origin of a way of seeing, inviting viewers to inhabit a spacewhere light, matter, and perception continuously reshape one another.
Tell us about BIEAF2026 'From Sun To Boy' : Every artistic practice possesses a genealogy that precedes technique. Beforecraft comes an education of perception—the ability to pause long enough torecognize that reality contains more layers than it first reveals. Atardecer en el corazón emerges from this formative experience. Rather thandepicting a landscape or preserving a memory, the work investigates howlight shapes perception and how moments of contemplation continue toinhabit us long after they have disappeared. Its origin lies in an intimate ritual shared with my mother. Each sunsetsuspended the rhythm of everyday life, opening a space where light, color, andshadow transformed an ordinary moment into an act of contemplation. Overtime, what began as her invitation became mine. It was there thatcontemplation ceased to be observation and became a form of knowledge. The painting does not illustrate that experience; it extends the conditions thatmade it possible. Powdered charcoal, pigments, resin, and layered material accumulationsconstruct a surface where transformation remains inscribed. Charcoal appearsnot as a symbol of darkness but as the residue of transformation itself. Matterbecomes an active field of perception, continuously altered by the incidenceof light. As illumination shifts across the surface, the work changes with it,ensuring that no encounter is ever identical, just as memory itself is neverfixed. Here, the sun is not treated as an iconographic subject but as the conditionthat makes perception possible. It is not the image of the sun that matters, butits capacity to reveal matter, shape attention, and awaken consciousnessthrough the act of seeing. As a Puerto Rican woman, my practice contributes to the ongoing evolution ofmaterial abstraction, extending a tradition historically shaped bypredominantly male voices through a language rooted in contemplation,perception, and transformation. In doing so, I seek to expand the possibilitiesof abstraction as a space where materiality, memory, and lived experienceconverge beyond inherited narratives. The work does not preserve a sunset; it preserves the origin of a way ofseeing. What once existed as an intimate ritual now finds a new form of existencethrough painting. Rather than offering a personal narrative, the work invitesthe viewer to inhabit a threshold where light, materiality, memory, andperception converge, transforming an intimate experience into a sharedhuman experience.
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Sunset Within the Heart
Mixed media, Powdered charcoal, pigments, resin, and layered materialaccumulations 24" X 20" 2026
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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Emilio Hector Rodriguez
United States
The 23rd Busan International Environment Art Festival (BIEAF) 2026 is builtaround the theme “From Sun to Boy”, a poetic concept that explores therelationship between nature and humanity. The sun symbolizes the source oflife, creation, hope, and energy, while the child represents the future, freedom,imagination, and humanity’s capacity to create a more peaceful world. Theexhibition invites artists to express love, peace, art, and freedom throughworks that connect environmental awareness with human values.
Artist's Introduction : Being a painter whose professional expertise is in the fields of Mathematicsand Cybernetics is not a common profile. But it is my case indeed. This givesme an unusual perspective when I am proposing and defining my work. Myinterpretation of the environment is deeply affected by the criteria shaped bymy formal education. Abstract art allows me to take a deep look andexperiment inside any existing reality. It is not only a tool I use to look underthe skin of a creature or under the surface of an object, but it is also a path tolook above them all. Abstract art, for me, is not just a simple instrument todescribe what is hidden by the boundaries of life and by the mattersurrounding me, but it allows me to recreate those boundaries, throughimagination, beyond the limits of my sight and thoughts. My paintingsrepresent the vertex where Mathematics, spirituality and arts convergeforever to satisfy my inner longing to integrate my ideas with colors andshapes.
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The Tenderness of Color
Acrylic on paper 20" x 20" 2025
Color can be tender, rugged, kind, aggressive, soft, or strong. In this work, Iseek to represent the tenderness of color as experienced during a moment ofpeaceful ecstasy, because peace inspires tenderness—in an embrace, a kiss,or a handshake.
I hope this artwork allows you to feel that sentiment which enrichesfriendship, and that even if we do not know each other personally, we maycome together to celebrate this occasion through a simple work of art.
In “The Tenderness of Color,” the peaceful energy symbolized by the sun istransformed into a gentle human experience, expressing through color thesame hope, love, and harmony that “From Sun to Boy” envisions for futuregenerations.
Peace to you and your loved ones.

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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Emina Čop
Croatia
EmmiC (Emina Čop) is a contemporary visual artist and art educator fromCroatia. Holding a Master’s degree in Art Education, her analytical practiceutilizes high-resolution digital photography and 'living collage' to investigateenvironmental and social critique.
Description of the work :
"Unembellished Nature" is a photographic series investigating the materialfriction between organic surfaces and synthetic texturing. Presented underthe theme "From Sun to Boy," it subverts thecommercial gaze to expose how the beauty industry treats the environmentand the body as construction sites.The narrative tracks a vital shift from passive confinement to active defenseand final ecological reclamation.
"From Sun To Boy" provides a vital space to reconnect nature's genesis withartistic humanity. My project, "Unembellished Nature," embraces this dialogueby exposing how industrial forces try to alter creation, while the resilientbiology reclaims its true identity through natural decay.
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Unembellished Nature: Living Collages against the Synthetic Gaze
Photography, Digital photography of ephemeral living collage (C-print on archival paper) 50 x 70 cm 2026
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Gallery 08
BIEAF2026 - From SUN To BOY
World Artist
Invitation Exhibition
BIEAF Steering Committee announces BIEAF2026 participants. 848 artists were selected from 84 countries. The online exhibition will run from September 10, 2025 to February 28, 2026. During this period, offline exhibitions will be held at various galleries in Busan.
Gallery 08 Artists and Works Slide
You can mark hearts on your favorite artists and works.
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BIEAF2026 Invited Artist
Emna Codepi
Colombia
BIEAF is an event that brings together artists from around the world to sharetheir work and their love for nature and the environment. It is a global initiativethat shares emotions and allows us to express ourselves through brushstrokesof love and joy, leaving a mark for future generations—a place where love forthe environment, love for one another, and world peace are prioritized.
Description of the work :
The work belongs to the *florillismo* style, characterized by the formation oflarge geometric shapes from thousands of tiny, flower-shaped brushstrokes.Warm, springtime colors create the effect of a festive garden, conveying asense of life and celebration—an expression of joy and nature. Creating thispiece required weeks, days, and months of work, given the delicacy of eachtiny flower formed by the brushstrokes.
Emna Codepi is a Colombian visual artist, a nature lover, and an admirer ofspring. Her palette has spanned various styles—such as *costumbrismo*,surrealism, and abstraction—and for decades she has been developing a styleshe calls "El Florillismo." This artistic movement is derived in part frompointillism but is characterized by greater intensity and more vigorousbrushwork. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums acrossseveral countries, and she has participated in numerous art exhibitions.
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