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From 2D lines to 3D doodles as alarm clocks and AR drawings – Dubai-based illustrator Kapil Bhimekar (@k100dxb & @kapilbhimekar) is constantly re-inventing himself. Also Creative Director at the advertising company Young & Rubicam, he has won awards at major international award shows including Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show and more and was invited to be a jury member at Cannes Lions in 2018. He enjoys weekends painting the city in black and white, inventing new products for his brand K100 and hosting workshops for art enthusiasts in Dubai. At A4 space in Alserkal Avenue (one of the coolest work spaces in Dubai), the walls are decorated with his art. Scroll down to find out what Kapil has to say about his work...
MIXTURA: How did it all begin?
Kapil Bhimekar: I graduated in Applied Arts in Mumbai in 2004. Advertising was an obvious career choice for me, however it was not that easy to find the right job as a fresh graduate. I visited various ad agencies and design studios looking for work, until I finally found my first job at the design studio 'The Flagship'.
MIXTURA: What's your greatest inspiration?
KB: For me art is self-expression. I’m generally a very shy person, so art is a way to express myself, my thoughts and my ideas. And I feel I’m truly myself when I’m creating art,
which is a highly satisfying and rewarding experience.
MIXTURA: What are your studio must-haves?
KB: I don’t own a studio right now, it’s my dining table that acts as a part-time studio, but my brush pen is a must-have for me 24/7 – I don’t leave home without one, even if I visit the grocery store next to my house. I also like having an ample supply of paper, black ink, brushes and acrylic paints at any given time.
MIXTURA: What challenges have you faced as an artist?
KB: Each day is a challenge for me as an artist, the only difference is the challenges keep changing. Sometimes I struggle to find a subject for my art, sometimes the challenge is to sell myself as an artist to an art gallery, sometimes it is to find a solution to a problem half way through an artwork. But in the process I learnt to never give up and keep going no matter how terrible the situation is. It takes a great amount of courage to accept failure and keep going.
MIXTURA: What works have been the most memorable to you over the years?
KB: One of them was the street art I made for Quoz Arts Fest couple of years back. The coffee cup using a man hole lid was my first experience to create something live and it was great to see how people reacted to it – the feedback was very humbling and rewarding for me.
Contact Kapil Bhimekar