We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pipe Yanguas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pipe below.

Pipe, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Throughout my life I have always painted and drawn but I used to see it as a hobby. During the Covid-19 pandemic I happened to be visiting my hometown Cali, Colombia for two weeks in March 2020. Airports were closing around the world and life as we knew it came suddenly to a halt. Photography which has been my business came to a pause as well and I decided to stay in Colombia for a little longer. Being there in a place surrounded only by nature, I discovered a very peculiar insect, a Coreid Bug Nymph. This insect inspired me to do a drawing for which I employed only dots and lines. This drawing marked the beginning of an art journey that I have called Dots and Lines World. I have worked in different mediums such as paintings, drawings, digital art, photography, video art, public art and muralism.

All my work is characterized by the sole use of dots and lines and the message conveyed is the power of connection. To me every dot represents a person and every line the link between person to person. ‘We are all connected’ either through an interpersonal relationship, a project, an experience, a dream, etc. We are also connected to everything that surrounds us and everything that conforms us. The other main message of my work is ‘Together we are infinite’ and refers to how when we operate by ourselves we are limited to our own talent but when joined by others, the land of opportunities is infinite.

What got me excited about this journey was the fact that it was an insect that set me on this path. Had I not been present I would have easily walked over it as I did all the previous years that I never noticed it. When you are present and in touch with your surroundings as well as open to new ideas, magic might strike you. When I finished the very first dots and lines paintings back in early 2020, I shared them with people I knew in the art world and if it wasn’t because of their positive encouragement to keep exploring the dots and lines idea I probably would not have taken it seriously. I am thankful to those first opinions that pushed me to keep on painting non stop, which has allowed me to spread my message of connection. The art world is a never ending journey but I am grateful to where it has taken me so far and excited for what is coming next through dedication and constancy.

Pipe, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Besides the art world, I have actually worked as a photographer for most of my life for a concept I came up with after finishing my photography studies in Milan, Italy back in 2010. My business is called The Photo Biographer. I work with the passions of people. I use whatever moves your heart or drives your life as the theme for your photoshoot; it can be your passion for horseback riding, boat sailing, playing an instrument, painting, family time, pets, fashion, jewelry, sports, or even your car. I work with natural lighting and the photoshoot setting is chosen according to your preference; as long as it reflects your lifestyle and is a space that is common for you or dear to your heart.

My aim is always to capture spontaneous special moments. I do not shoot weddings or similar events; I believe that the best day of your life is not just the milestones like the wedding day, graduation or birthday, but actually TODAY, and every day! Each day is worth capturing. Therefore, I document people’s happiness in their day-to-day life and create for them a PHOTObiography. This is reflected in the form of a coffee-table book that grows and blossoms over time, photoshoot after photoshoot, portraying people’s passions and happiness at every step of the way.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients has always been word of mouth. All throughout the years this keeps being the main source.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Back when I was 25 years old there was a turning point of my work career after working in the corporate world up until then. It was a good experience but I realized that I was working without meaning or purpose. It was then when I decided to shift to the art world and moved to Italy to pursue my photography studies. That has been the most important decision in my life and one that I am thankful to have made. I have worked as a professional photographer since 2010 and since 2020 also embarked in the art world. Nowadays I am split between The Photo Biographer business and all where the art world has been leading me to. Working by yourself brings a lot of empowerment but you are also dealing many times with uncertainty. I guess I have learnt to maneuver the uncertain times by working harder, keep on being constant and believing in my purpose. It fills me with joy to get gratitude messages of my PHOTObiography clients that year after year see their books grow filled with beautiful moments of their lives or family’s lives. The art world has also constantly enlightened me by connecting me with wonderful people for collaborations, mural projects both in public or private spaces and all the new possibilities that are born after each project.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dotsandlinesworld.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dotsandlinesworld/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dotsandlinesworld
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dotsandlinesworld
• Other: www.thephotobiographer.com https://www.instagram.com/thephotobiographer/

Image Credits
Pipe Yanguas portrait Credit: Photo by Andrez Abril All additional photos Credit: Photos by Pipe Yanguas