Liam-Emile
Liam-Emile
(2020), 84 x 59.5 cm, N° 1/1
Gallery Print on Acrylic glass
About Liam-Emile
Immediately, Liam's curiosity about the world around him radiates outward. It is impossible to view this picture in a negative light. Liam’s intricate facial features demonstrate a sort of sophistication unlike any other. The brown coloring of the shoulder represents its stability in the world, and the bright yellow background is meant to demonstrate the character's desire to explore. At first, Liam's hair gives off an unkempt look. Whereas the glasses on the face appear to portray a polished figure. Liam is aware but is still learning. Liam's stature, immediately calls attention to its personality, filling an entire room with its presence.
Emile emits a casual type of confidence. The character enjoys the positive things in life. Its relaxed dark blue background demonstrates the carefree expression of life. Emile, is distinct by portraying a witty attitude toward the world, especially how the shape of the tongue is presented. Proportionally, Emile has a large head, with little body being represented in the picture. The focus is that Emile's presence draws all the attention towards itself. Emile is the favorite art piece in every room entered, and through the green, sharp eyes, it presents ideas with passion and humor.
Liam:Emile
written by the BollagArt team
Olivier Bollag’s artwork, Liam-Emile, is a diptych that showcases the portraits of two characters, Liam and Emile, whose age difference gives the impression that they are the same character at different stages of their lives. The colorful faces in this art piece evoke happiness, joy, and eagerness to explore the world. Through his artwork, Bollag reduces complex faces to simple lines and forms, to explore the essence of the faces and their emotions, and to evoke happiness and joy in the viewer.
Liam, on the left side of the diptych, represents a youngster whose curiosity about the world radiates outward. Liam's intricate facial features demonstrate a sort of sophistication unlike any other. The glasses on Liam's face portray a polished figure, while his hairstyle gives off an unkempt look. The bright yellow background in Liam’s portrait makes it impossible to view this artwork in a negative light. The brown coloring of the shoulder represents its stability in the world, and the bright yellow background also conveys the character's desire to explore. Liam's maturity level is quite high, but he is still an apprentice. His stature calls attention to its personality, filling an entire room with its presence.
On the right side of the artwork, Emile is a confident individual who enjoys life and has a positive attitude. The solid dark blue background symbolizes that Emile’s life is carefree. Emile’s tongue shape conveys a witty attitude toward the world. Emile’s head is larger than Liam's, which is a strong indicator of the age difference between the two characters. Emile’s facial expression and gaze indicate that we see an introverted character whose strong personality draws attention toward itself. Emile’s green eyes are spontaneously sketched in a sharp form, a detail that suggests the character is a passionate individual with a sense of humor.
The two portraits are in a visual dialogue that establishes important intergenerational connections despite the age difference. Liam-Emile encapsulates a sophisticated view of two characters that seem to be portrayed as if looking at each other. The age and name difference between the two figures portrayed symbolizes the transformation through which Emile went from a young age until he became a confident and wise old adult. From the right side of the artwork, Emile is watching young Liam with understanding and compassion. Liam’s surprised figure resonates not only with Emile but also with us, the viewers, for it reminds us that we were curious and native too but somehow forgot to stay in touch with those traits that enrich life.
The colors used in the artwork are also significant. The two portraits’ background colors - yellow and blue - also encode a contemporary reference, for they are the colors of Ukraine’s flag. With this subtle play on the background color, the artist brings an homage to Ukrainian youngsters whose maturity levels were forced to rise by the ongoing military assault on their country. The vibrant colors of Liam's portrait and the relaxed dark blue background of Emile's portrait reflect the positive attitudes and joy that the characters embody.
In conclusion, Olivier Bollag's Liam-Emile is a stunning piece of art that captures the viewer's attention and evokes positive emotions such as happiness, enthusiasm, and eagerness to explore the world. The artwork's features, such as the intricate facial features, background colors, and the two characters' facial expressions, are beautifully crafted to tell a story of transformation, wisdom, and compassion. The visual dialogue between the two portraits invites the viewer to reflect on their own transformation over the years and to stay in touch with the traits that enrich life. This art piece is not only visually appealing but also deeply meaningful, making it a perfect addition to any art collection.