Born in Morocco in 1972, Yassine Balbzioui plays with conventions and shifts between media. Having attended a variety of artistic courses throughout the 1990’s, and holding several degrees including Master of Fine Arts, from the School of Fine Arts in Casablanca, Morocco and Superior National Diploma ART and MEDIA from the School of Fine Art in Bordeaux France.
The recurrent mask is a theme that has always fascinated Balbzioui and played a major role in his work. According to him, society is often based on appearances. "We live more and more in a society that tries to hide its true nature through lies. Everyone takes a false identity”, says the artist. His works continually lead the viewer to question the notions of sincerity and hypocrisy or truth and lies.
It is hard to miss the absence of the human face in Yassine’s work; as the paintings are marked with animals and birds, often referring to bestiary, representing stories or scenes depending on the characteristics of the animals; and their similarities to human habits and characteristics. "The animal is a creature that resembles us but also where we find attributes that are increasingly absent in humans, such as softness or nobility," says the artist.
The artworks explore the idea of “being” and “appearing” through the form of masks, and how our choices and actions sometimes are affected more by primitive instincts than thoughtful decisions. With this technique, the oil paintings in his work feature chameleons, referencing how the Indian people learn to adapt in whatever situation they are in.