How Bijijoo Turns Experimentation into Extraordinary

The Art of Chaos: Understanding Bijijoo’s Creative Journey

When we think about creativity, we often think about moments of inspiration, flashes of brilliance that somehow materialize into art.

But for some, creativity is more about process—about diving into the unknown and seeing what emerges.

bijijoo, artist, 2024 — Artist portrait: **Bijijoo** standing in front of one of his large-scale paintings, offering a glimpse into his vibrant and surreal world. Munchies Art Club takes a deeper dive into his artistic practice, exploring the fascinating techniques, themes, and stories behind his captivating works. Discover the unique process and creativity that fuel Bijijoo’s imagination.

This is how Bijijoo approaches his work.

He’s not just an artist; he’s a scientist of the surreal, conjuring vibrant worlds from the chaos of his imagination.

He doesn’t just paint; he experiments. And that’s what makes his work stand out.

Born in 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia, Bijijoo’s life has been anything but linear. His background is deeply rooted in science, with a Ph.D. in biophysics, which might seem like an unusual foundation for an artist.

Yet, it’s precisely this technical grounding that informs his art. He doesn’t just paint; he experiments. And that’s what makes his work stand out.

His paintings are as much about the process of creation as they are about the final image.

bijijoo, artist — Inside Bijijoo’s studio, surrounded by vibrant works-in-progress, we get a glimpse into the creative chaos that fuels his surrealist paintings. The large-scale pieces in the making, alongside scattered colorful artworks on the floor, highlight the dynamic energy and playful experimentation that define Bijijoo’s artistic process.

Themes of Nostalgia, Grotesque, Life, and Death

What’s interesting about Bijijoo’s work is how it wrestles with some pretty heavy themes: nostalgia, the grotesque, life, and death.

But it doesn’t do so in a morose or overly serious way.

**Bijijoo** presents three diverse works, each exploring surreal characters and imaginative worlds. *Careful What You Wish For* (2020) is a vibrant oil and acrylic painting on yupo, where whimsical figures interact in a playful yet mysterious scene. In *Ghosts* (2023), ink, watercolor, and acrylic on paper bring ghostly forms to life in an eerie, nightmarish landscape. Finally, *Sorting Things Out* (2023) offers a digital artwork that blurs the line between fantasy and reality, with two surreal figures entangled in a dreamlike environment.

Instead, his paintings are playful, filled with monsters and characters that could have stepped out of a child’s dream—or nightmare.

There’s a kind of dark whimsy at play here, a balance between the lighthearted and the deeply unsettling.

Take, for example, his explorations of the grotesque. Many of his figures are exaggerated, almost cartoonish in their distortion.

bijijoo frost oil acrylic and pastel on canvas 80x80cm 2022 surreal painting with playful creature and whimsical landscape — **Bijijoo’s***Frost* (2022), an 80x80cm painting, merges oil, acrylic, and pastel to create a surreal, dreamlike scene. The playful creature adorned with a vibrant necklace, set against a whimsical landscape, evokes a sense of wonder and curiosity. With its soft textures and imaginative elements, the painting captures Bijijoo’s unique approach to blending the familiar with the fantastical.

Yet, they also have a kind of life to them, a sense that they are caught in the midst of some internal struggle or celebration.

It’s as if these characters are frozen in time, their movements and expressions captured at a peak moment of emotional intensity.

The Philosophy of Process

What’s most striking about Bijijoo’s approach to art is how he views the creative process. For him, making art is a kind of divination.

He begins with chaos—layers of paint, random lines, abstract forms—and lets the images emerge naturally.

This isn’t just a technique; it’s a philosophy. Chaos, in his view, is essential to creativity. It introduces randomness, unexpected elements that can lead to new ideas.

But there’s more to it than just letting go and seeing what happens. Bijijoo knows that chaos alone isn’t enough.

bijijoo, artwork — **Bijijoo’s** *Physical Things* , a large 160x160cm painting, combines oil, acrylic, and pastel to create a surreal figure draped in mundane objects, crowned with a playful twist. The work blurs the lines between the physical and the imaginative, highlighting the artist's unique approach to surrealism and the ordinary

There’s a balance to be struck between chaos and control, and this is where his scientific background comes into play.

His knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, and computer science allows him to exert just the right amount of control over the chaos.

**Bijijoo’s** *Precious Stones* (2024) and *Turkey* (2021) present two captivating explorations of surrealism. *Precious Stones*, sparkles with imaginative forms and intricate patterns, while *Turkey*(76x76cm), painted in oil and acrylic, radiates bold colors and playful textures, embodying Bijijoo’s signature blend of whimsy and depth.

It’s this interplay between freedom and precision that gives his work its unique character.

Art Practice: From Chaos to Narrative

Bijijoo’s process might sound spontaneous, but there’s a lot of thought that goes into it.

Bijijoo in the midst of creating Disguise, an ultra-large painting brimming with intricate details and rich textures. This work-in-progress captures the artist’s process, where layers of paint and imaginative elements slowly come to life, offering a glimpse into the meticulous and vibrant world of his art

He builds his paintings in layers, using both traditional and digital techniques.

Each layer interacts with the others, creating a complex interplay of light, color, and texture.

As the forms start to take shape, he begins to see figures emerging—often human or animal, but always distorted in some way.

Bijijoo’s Mona Lisa (2022) is a fascinating contemplation on the famous painting, blending oil, acrylic, and pastel on a 165x165cm canvas. Rather than a simple reinterpretation, Bijijoo extends the original by introducing a monstrous figure, adding layers of surrealism and complexity, turning the classic work into a whimsical yet thought-provoking narrative.

These figures aren’t just random shapes; they’re part of a narrative.

Bijijoo’s paintings often tell stories, though not in the traditional sense.

The narratives are more like snapshots of a moment, frozen in time.

Snapshots from **Bijijoo’s studio** showcase an 'organized chaos,' where paint is everywhere, yet creativity thrives. The space feels like a laboratory for imaginative painting, with vibrant colors and canvases at every turn—perfectly reflecting Bijijoo’s playful yet intentional artistic process.

They reflect a range of experiences, from struggle to celebration to introspection. And while these stories might be deeply personal, they also have a universal quality.

We can all relate to the emotions his characters express, even if we don’t fully understand the context.

A Fusion of Personal and Technical Influences

One of the most interesting aspects of Bijijoo’s work is how it’s influenced by his daughter. Her love for monsters and her vivid imagination have been a huge source of inspiration for him.

It’s this personal connection that brings a sense of playfulness to his work, balancing out the darker, more grotesque elements.

But it’s not just about whimsy; it’s also about reconnecting with a childlike sense of wonder, of seeing the world as a place full of possibilities.

This connection between the personal and the technical is what makes Bijijoo’s work so compelling.

His scientific background provides a foundation for his experimentation, allowing him to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

**Bijijoo:** *Dragon* (2022) and *Woozle* (2023) are two captivating contemporary paintings that explore the artist’s signature blend of oil, acrylic, and pastel. *Dragon* (100x100cm) enthralls with its dynamic energy and surreal elements, while *Woozle* (150x150cm) captivates with its bold textures and imaginative forms, both works showcasing Bijijoo’s mastery of color and whimsy.

But it’s his personal experiences—his daughter’s imagination, his own reflections on life and death—that give his work its emotional depth.

Exhibitions: From Portland to London to Los Angeles

Bijijoo’s work has gained significant attention in recent years, particularly on TikTok, where his process videos have captivated a global audience.

But he’s also made a name for himself in the more traditional art world.

bijijoo magical turkey oil acrylic and pastel on canvas 80x80cm colorful surreal contemporary painting — **Bijijoo:***Magical Turkey* (2022) is a vibrant and fantastical painting that showcases the artist's playful use of oil, acrylic, and pastel on an 80x80cm canvas. This colorful masterpiece bursts with whimsy and surrealism, inviting viewers into a world where imagination reigns supreme.

In 2023, Bijijoo had a solo exhibition at Saatchi Yates in London, where he presented large-scale paintings that explored various themes through his lively characters.

bijijoo human oil acrylic ink and pastel on canvas 160x160cm 2023 contemporary painting with surreal human form and bold textures — **Bijijoo:** (Artwork) *Human* (2023) is a striking contemporary painting that uses oil, acrylic, ink, and pastel on a large 160x160cm canvas. This powerful work explores the complexity of human form and emotion, blending surreal elements with bold textures and intricate detail.

This exhibition was a significant milestone in his career, showcasing his ability to blend whimsy with technical precision on a grand scale.

Following this, in 2024, Bijijoo exhibited at the Richard Heller Gallery in Los Angeles, another significant moment in his artistic journey.

richard heller gallery, los angeles, exhibition 2024, bijijoo fancy puppy oil acrylic and pastel on canvas, contemporary painting with whimsical and surreal elements — **Bijijoo:***Fancy Puppy* (2022) is a contemporary artwork that playfully blends oil, acrylic, and pastel on canvas. With its whimsical style and vibrant textures, the painting invites viewers into a surreal world, where imagination and reality merge in a captivating visual narrative.

This exhibition continued to explore the dynamic themes present in his work, offering viewers an immersive experience into his world of vibrant characters and monsters.

The show further solidified his place in the contemporary art scene, demonstrating his ability to captivate audiences with both the scale and depth of his creative vision.

bijijoo mind reading digital 2024 painting with surreal figures and vibrant colors blending thought and technology — **Bijijoo’s***Mind Reading* (2024) takes viewers into a digital surrealist landscape, blending vibrant colors and complex figures that seem to emerge from a dream state. The painting’s intricate design invites contemplation on the boundaries of thought, technology, and human emotion.

**Bijijoo’s** mastery of detail comes to life in this duo of paintings, where surreal figures and intricate textures create a world of whimsy and thought-provoking imagery. Each painting demands closer inspection, revealing layers of fantastical elements that blur the line between reality and imagination -> Image Courtesy by the Artist

His work has been featured in various other exhibitions around the world, from Los Angeles to Taipei, each one offering a new glimpse into his evolving practice.