Fuel on Water

Concept of the Year, created by YummyColours, is a response to traditional annual color forecasts. Instead of a trend, it is an open-ended prompt for work created through intentional and personal interpretation. It is an inspiration that addresses world events and meaningful markers in society. Unlike colors, which are fixed and full of associations, concepts are an intangible meditation on a particular moment, image, or feeling.

The inaugural Concept of the Year for 2021 is “Fuel on Water”: a body of work from 55+ global collaborators presented as both a publication and a digital exhibition. For a full experience visit: Conceptoftheyear.com

To formulate the Concept of the Year, YummyColours identified their individual outlooks regarding 2021. They synthesized these forecasts and noticed two recurring themes: duality—emerging from the clashing emotional expectations—and evolution—relating to anticipation of social and technological changes. The combination of these themes was ultimately translated as fragile and iridescent, precarious and changing depending on perspective.

To visually represent this fragile iridescence, YummyColours chose "Fuel on Water." Elements that oppose (e.g. artificial and natural) can coexist within the same ecosystem, resulting in something that is both delicate and incredibly colourful. “Fuel on Water” perfectly represents the fluidity of change within life and suggests that beauty lives in the overlap and exploration of how seemingly distinct ideas and media can share space.