Ymane Chabi-Gara’s Paintings of Solitude at kamel mennour

Capturing the essence of hikikomori, a phenomenon originating in Japan known as severe social withdrawal, Ymane Chabi-Gara’s paintings frame young subjects in moments of loneliness, rendered in soft pastel hues.

The Paris-born artist’s compositions are strikingly meticulous and exemplify her sophisticated use of muted tones.

In Hikikomori 9 (2022), Chabi-Gara populates her composition with busy bookshelves and a lone figure playing guitar. Texture oozes from the subject’s t-shirt and manifests a marble effect, showcasing the artist’s skilful manipulation of paint.

Teasing viewers with a glimpse of a familiar face—Pikachu, the Pokémon—we see more facial features on the yellow toy in the background than we do on Chabi-Gara’s figure.

Purposefully absent of character, Chabi-Gara’s subjects are fragmented, suspended in lonely narratives that unfold through piles of plush toys and untidy interiors to encapsulate the feeling of isolation in the modern world.

Ymane Chabi-Gara: Un petit morceau d’étoffe violette runs until 28 January 2023.

Main image: Ymane Chabi-Gara, Hikikomori 11 (2020). Acrylic paint on plywood. 122 x 244 cm. © Ymane Chabi-Gara. Courtesy the artist and kamel mennour, Paris.