* All images used with permission. Please do not distribute without first contacting the artist.
Benon Lutaaya paints to convey an emotional story, illustrating the fragility of life from his own personal experiences.
Through his work, he finds expression for emotions shared by many, especially those living on the fringes of the mainstream society. The abstract imagery in his collages represents the act of survival while the text, often obscure, stresses questions of identity within society.
In his paper collage and mixed media paintings, he aims to mix paint with vision, collage with story, and text with meditation. Out of these mixtures comes a release of energy imbued with life and raw simplicity.
Lutaaya chooses textures to match the painterly play of light and. This allows for a three-dimensional effect on a flat surface, as well as enhancing rich colors and contrast. The work is constantly evolving. ‘I enjoy coming up with something new and unique,’ he says. ‘I love to surprise myself.’