Artwork Description

Title: Yes I Am
Artist: Christian Silvain
Date: n.d.
Medium: Mixed media on canvas
Dimensions: 31.5 x 31.5 in (80 x 80 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Yes I Am is a visually arresting work by Christian Silvain, rendered in mixed media on canvas. The central figure—an exaggerated Mickey Mouse-like character in powder blue, marked with blue stars and outlined in red—jubilantly proclaims its presence against a dark, photo-collage-style background. Words like “YES I AM” and “Albane retrouvé” punctuate the surface, along with handprints, cartoon drawings, ladders, and shadowy toy-like forms. Silvain’s signature appears in the lower left corner. The artwork is unframed and presented on stretched canvas.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
This piece draws heavily from Silvain’s post-2000 period, characterized by bold Pop Art influences and a fascination with popular symbols from childhood. The central figure—a corrupted icon of innocence—embodies Silvain’s satirical exploration of identity, memory, and loss. The layering of media, text, and visual symbols reflects both Art Brut sensibilities and the postmodern collage tradition.

3. Historical Context
Created during a time when Silvain reengaged with themes of psychological fragmentation and cultural saturation, this work is part of his ongoing investigation into the emotional residue of childhood trauma. Using the language of mass media and commercial imagery, Silvain crafts a dissonant visual landscape that questions authenticity, nostalgia, and emotional truth.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact

5. Condition and Conservation
Very good condition. The canvas is taut, the mixed media elements are stable, and the surface shows no signs of wear. Colors remain vibrant and textural components are well preserved.

6. Artistic Significance
With Yes I Am, Silvain constructs a powerful counter-narrative to the cheerful iconography of childhood. The confident declaration in the Title: is undercut by eerie symbols and dark motifs lurking beneath the surface. This contradiction—the bright figure overlaid on a chaotic, memory-laden backdrop—exemplifies Silvain’s ability to convey both defiance and vulnerability. A potent example of his late style, this piece offers a complex and layered meditation on selfhood and the cost of survival.