Selwyn Senatori (1973) - Yab Yum

Yab Yum
80 × 120 cm
Oil on canvas
2008
Signed
Purchased at the Holland Art Gallery

The painting Yab Yum in memoriam of Selwyn Senatori (oil on canvas, 80 × 120 cm) combines symbolism, romance and graphic power in a distinctive visual language. At the center of the composition are two white birds bending toward each other, their beaks almost touching, creating an intimate and harmonious moment. This encounter forms a visual reference to the concept yab-yum, a term originating from Tibetan iconography that signifies the union of two forces: the masculine and the feminine, the spiritual and the earthly.

The warm red background and the graceful, almost baroque ornaments reinforce the sense of passion and vitality, while the crowns and decorative motifs evoke a playful, almost theatrical atmosphere. At the same time, the text “In memoriam” adds a melancholic layer: the work seems an ode to love that endures, even in memory.

With his characteristic mix of street-art influences, decorative patterns and emotional symbolism, Senatori creates an image that is both energetic and moving—a visual homage to connection, love and remembrance.