Dubai-based Artist Betty Yaghi On Freedom of Expression, Creating “Mind-scapes” and Her Love For Contemporary Art
“Being an artist feels like the most natural thing to me…”
In honour of Art Dubai, which took place earlier this month, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia asked four talented artists to create unique pieces that would both blend with and become backdrops to ensembles with their own decorative charm: James Goldcrown, Betty Yaghi, MC Kirwan and Alexander Ermakov.
Betty Yaghi is an artist who has had several solo exhibitions and who has taken part in the some of the world’s largest art shows including Art Basel Switzerland, Paris Contemporary Art Fair, Art Miami, Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, Zona Maco México, and Art Dubai.
Heavily influenced by the Abstract Expressionist movement (and specifically by Jackson Pollock), Betty sees art as coming from within the self rather than it being about a specific subject matter. Betty uses the term “mind-scapes”, meaning a depiction of mental landscapes. She sees her creations as blueprints of her own intricate thoughts and emotional processing. Betty has been based in Dubai since 2015.
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia (HBA): What inspired your artwork on the day of the shoot?
Betty Yaghi (BY): My piece is a celebration of life, womanhood and harmony. In order to create art for a fashion shoot, I drew inspiration from current trends in fashion and art. I wanted to create something that would depict the connection between art and fashion. I looked at everything from joyful colours to natural beauty. Moreover, I wanted to showcase our wonderful ability to adapt in the face of uncertain times and come out the other side with even more creative ideas for the future.
HBA: What do you love most about being an artist?
BY: I love the creative freedom that comes with being a contemporary artist. The lack of rules in contemporary art allows for full freedom of expression; an ability to push boundaries in art and explore new ideas in my own voice and style. Furthermore, I cherish the sweet feeling of accomplishment I have when I finish a piece and get to present it at a show. Above all, being an artist feels like the most natural thing to me.
Find Betty Yaghi’s work on @byaghi.official.
Photography: Daron Bandeira
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s March 2023 issue