"The Thermopolium"

„My work is inspired by Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus. Thermopolium means hot shop or hot things. When in Roman times, merchants and craftsmen also held a high social status, reserved only to landowners in older times. Drinks and hot food were served in this place, as the name indicates, stored in large jars placed in the richly decorated masonry counter of the tavern. The Serpents in this mural were also inspired by some paintings that I found in the ancient city of Pompei. The serpent painting decorated household shrines, kitchens, shops, crossroads, and public temples in Pompeii. In these places, snakes are not scary or evil but quite the opposite. Snakes often accompanying the Lares, are also symbols of good fortune and guardian deities that protect their home, shop or temple.”  – Yessiow

Yessiow is an illustrator and mural artist from Bali, Indonesia. She decided as a teenager that she wanted to study visual communication design to pursue her passion and dream. She is currently enjoying her new hobby, traveling. She’s been traveling and working at the same time since 2018. Her passion for drawing and art goes back to her childhood, she told us that she loved to draw as a child, to explore her ideas and imagination. Her work is heavily influenced by natural objects and bright colors around her. Currently, she has murals in Cambodia, Nepal, India, and Italy.

 “My experience in murals are usually represented with eye-catching colors, playful elements, and influenced by natural objects and bright colors around me, considering I live in a tropical place, every day I see very blue skies, orange or purple sunsets, as well as, vibrant tropical plants such as coconuts and mango trees. I like to see my work in the public spaces, immersed in the activity of the people who go through or see it every day.” – Yessiow