Yesenia Duran is recreating the encyclopaedia for everything from dinosaurs to balloon animals

Seldom seen in the art world is the form of the encyclopaedia, but Yesenia Duran is putting a change to that. Yesenia’s wonderful felt tip drawings are a type of wimmelbook of information, mazes of dense information crammed together into dazzling educational celebrations of creatures all around the world. Incorporating collage elements, Yesenia’s drawings recall the historical art of Jan Brueghel le Jeune’s Garden Of Eden, or eccentric entomological displays. “I was born in the Year Of The Rabbit,” says Yesenia, tying her art once again to the world of animals. “That’s where I got my talent.”

From Beanie Babies to mexican herbs, sneakers to beetles, there’s nothing that Yesenia doesn’t deem worthy of documenting in clusters of exciting knowledge. For Yesenia, art is also about offering zoological and botanical facts as a way to connect the viewer to crucial education. “Some plants can help you heal your injuries and wounds,” she explains. Other times, it’s about bringing people closer to sentimentality. “When people see my art I hope they think about their favourite plants and animals.” Perhaps most importantly, Yesenia’s inspired information-age drawings offer pure fun, as seen in a collection of different balloon animals. Everything is worth learning about in this artist’s vibrant and lively world.