Hi, I’m Yei Duran, I’m an artist plastic born in la Guajira, Colombia.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been passionate for drawing and painting.
I started off my collage years learning business administration in Colombia, but later on, in the Florida International University, I studied what I’ve truly always wanted, fine arts.
For me, painting is a way to tell a story. My paintings are inspired by indigenous people from the northernmost part of Colombia called the “Wayuu”. The Wayuu people are tribe members who are full of magic and colors. In the mix of all this beauty, they struggle with starvation, abandonment, malnutrition, discrimination and family deaths, especially of their children.
My love for the Wayuu culture began with my grandmother, a 95 years old Wayuu woman, who taught me about the importance of being proud of your roots and identity.
Through my strong brush strokes and the use of bright acrylic colors, I want to capture the spirit of the Wayuu people and talk about both their magnificent culture and their unspoken struggles.
My usage of bright colors is to draw significance to the already native handworks. In my artwork, a contrast is built. From the bright blues of the sea, to the piercing yellow of the desert.
Native people are part of our past and I hope to raise concern about their situation and preservation.
My ultimate goal is that my artwork drives people to reconnect with their roots, as well as their ancestries. Just like me, I want everyone to appreciate where they come from and who they are.