About the Artwork: 'Undress the Amour' is the darkest artwork in ESCAPISM, both in the use of colour in the lower half of the artwork and in the imagery of a skull that melts downward in dripping mass. But there is light and space in equal measure. The use of organic lines in a wide colour palette dance around the composition, leading us to washes of maroon, that resemble organic land or cliffs. The grey-tone sky gives depth and movement and horizontal compositional elements create balance. This is a strong artwork that comprises all the expertise that Jacob Yikes. 

 

About the Artist: 
Jacob Yikes (Jacob Ryan, born 1987), is a multi-disciplinary artist from Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand. From his roots in graffiti as a teenager, Yikes has earned a position as one of the country’s most prolific and respected urban artists. After joining the renowned DTR Crew in 2014, his profile and output expanded and his ever-evolving and distinctive style has seen him headline an array of street art festivals across Aotearoa, including Rise, Spectrum, Paradox and South Sea Spray.

Developing a focus on his fine art and studio-based works, Yikes completed his Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts in 2010 and has been exhibiting in gallery settings since. His unique style and technical skill have seen him complete commercial campaigns with Cadbury, Parrot Dog Brewery and Fiasco Brewing, as well as collaborations with musicians Tom Scott and Mellowdowns.  His work has even extended to hospitality fit-outs, creating special effects in the interiors of several popular restaurants, such as Mexico in Christchurch. 

His ability to adapt his style to various subjects has given Jacob access to private commissions, from small-scale studio works to massive walls, both private and public. Commissions with the DTR Crew and OiYOU! Street Art includes Jacob’s largest wall yet, the tribute to iconic physicist Earnest Rutherford on the Hutchinson Ford Building in central Christchurch (2022).