Oh Yeah Studio by Hans Christian Øren and four other artists from Norway was invited to the exhibition “New Nordic Fashion Illustration". This is a follow-up to two exhibitions held in Tallinn and Helsinki a few years ago, featuring artists from Estonia, Finland and Sweden. The new display includes artists from Norway and Denmark, offering a comprehensive picture of the creative approach. The last decade has brought fashion illustration back to the attention of art historians and galleries. The last couple of years have witnessed its strong presence in online publications and exhibitions. While the focus of the mainstream media has changed, the numerous new publications and wide range of subject show continuing interest in that genre. They say that Nordic artists have established a myth of the creator, who sees beauty from afar, from the edge of the world, generalizing the temporal and the timeless with a mere line stroke.

I was sick for months and couldn't work. I was frustrated and lost for a long period. In April after 5 months I was asked to make an artwork for the Nordic fashion exhibition. The first thing on the list was to visualize my emotions. The project was to find emotional patterns during day and night and communicate them. After being inside with no work, friends and activity you change. I tried to be myself, but I felt different. I was often frustrated, angry, sad, tired and felt lost for a long period. I tried to be myself among others, but I felt different. I was secure that I would be better, but I was still different. People could see it and I knew it. Even though I laughed and smiled, everyone could see that it was fake. I could´t hide my frustration and was kind of empty, but tried hard to not let this be an issue.
-Hans Christian Øren

In this period I still tried to work hard to create something new. After finding theme I first tried to communicate this with abstract shapes of things that I have experimented with before. After a while I could see that this wasn´t strong enough. I needed an actually person to show this. So I mixed my first idea with the second test. The person is dark that tells story and the mix with abstract shapes helps the artwork beeing different, but also could help to communicate the story. I chose different colors in the background to show the contrast between how the world is and my emotions.
-Hans Christian Øren

The first picture (blue) describes the emptiness. Second picture (brown) describes the feeling of being lost. I wanted to get out. The third picture (Yellow) describes the frustration. The fourth (green) describes searching for a way out. The fifth (pink and yellow) describes of seeing forward and hoping for a better future. The fifth (pink) describes wanting to just just run away from all the problems. I am a man and you can see that it´s only women in the artwork, but this is not just not about me. It is the emotions and the state of mind.
-Hans Christian Øren

Oh Yeah Studio's style and technique is usually combined analog and digital drawing. The fusion is interesting because the digital vector shapes are a contrast to the analog drawings. Vectors give you perhaps a more designed feel, whereas the drawings evoke an expression of the ideological craftsmanship of the artist/illustrator. What inspire my work is the interest in surrealism, abstract art and the unconsciousness. This is usually present in my work and is something I have been working with for some time now. So I often create with the idea and consept in mind of how this can communicate with the viewer and second tries tell this on a deeper unconscious level that gives a direct reaction. I also use a palette of few colors and elements to get a certain expression. I love how the use of few elements and few colors can emphasize the elements you actually are using. It is some people that have inspired me more than others through my life and that is Dali, El lissitzky, Darwin, Freud and the norwegian artist Gunnar S. Gundersen.
-Hans Christian Øren

I feel it´s hard to give advice, but I can say what helped me since I started with visual communication. First of all is to work hard. Work harder then others. I have always been the last person to go home from work. The second is don´t be afraid of failing, fail as much as you can. This is how you evolve. Third is to be updated, but be careful to not follow the trend. Don´t try to do what everyone does. Find your own style. The fourth is to try something new and experience something different then design. And the last is what my teacher always said «good enough ain´t good enough.
-Hans Christian Øren

Picture by Esra Røise.

About Hans Christian Øren

Oh Yeah Studio is a graphic design agency in Oslo, run by Hans Christian Øren. But even though Oh Yeah Studio is one person Hans usually work with others. Oh Yeah Studio started with two persons, Hans and Christina Magnussen, by doing idealistic projects and explore new fields and have fun after after a normal workday. The studio has had a natural development since it started as a hobby project in 2008, "doing after dinner", and into what it is today, a multidisciplinary design studio. Now Oh Yeah Studio have clients from all around the world like Nike, Burton, Adidas and ESPN. Oh Yeah Studio work within wide visual communication within many different fields like graphic design, illustration, interactive design, Industrial design, motion, branding, exhibitions and pure art projects. Oh Yeah Studio aims to create visuals that give more than just basic communication. Oh Yeah Studio wants you to forge an emotional connection to relate to the message on a deeper level. See more of Oh Yeah Studio and Hans Christian Øren.