Artist Profile Youri Messen-Jaschin

Artist Statement

These works are created without a computer, freehand.

In all my works, there are hidden geometric illusions, you just have to look at the work in different angles, different distances. Some illusions will be entirely created by your neurons, they will remain a few seconds in your brain. There are also illusions in the work which you will not find right away, it takes time and depends entirely on your brain. It is also possible you will see color changes in the work.

I let you discover them. If you discover them, send me a message to share what you have found.

Artist Biography

Youri studied Fine Arts by day at the National School of Fine Arts (student of Robert Cami) and worked at Les Halles market by night. He spent four years in Paris. Youri was awarded first prize for his woodcuts, won a scholarship, and went to study at Geneva’s contemporary engraving center, the Centre de la Gravure Contemporaine. In Zurich, Youri found work as an assistant to the fantastical surrealist Friedrich Kuhn. He was awarded a further scholarship in 1967 to The University of Gothenburg. Here, Youri discovered Op Art: The pioneering Op Artists had all gathered in Sweden for an exhibition at Gothenburg Museum of Art. Youri met Jesús-Rafael Soto and Carlos Cruz-Diez, and asked them to teach him the foundations of this fascinating art form. In a little over a week, these artists would make a deep impression on his entire artistic career.