An encounter with the oeuvres of Christian Tamondong evokes a sense of wonder for his intense colors that beckon us to a world of our childhood. His artworks are characterized by bold and vibrant colors applied in their purest intensity, confronting the mundaneness of often rigorous adulthood through unconstrained, unapologetic, and spirited imagination. In this 2006 piece titled Shakes & Bows, his use of color, shape, and space can be seen as a brilliant display of form and control. Furthermore, his precise hand skillfully directs what would have been a hodge-podge of disparate elements into a cohesive whole. Each figure in the piece, no matter the style or technique, exhibits the mastery of Tamondong over his craft. Tamondong's child-like approach serves a double entendre: while the forms appear naive, his themes are thoughtful meditations on the exuberance of life. His canvases show the visual artist’s delightfully lighthearted attitude to making art as he captures merriment through the eyes and wonder of a child. (P.I.R.)