What if you had a story to tell, but no one to tell it to? What if you had a joke to crack, but no one around one to laugh at it? What if you had a question to ask, but no one there to answer? What if you had a secret to share, but no one to whisper it to? These are the questions that provoked artist Kapil Bhimekar’s interactive installation – ‘I hear you’.
In a world where communication happens in emojis, LOLs and OMGs, ticks turning blue and wordless ‘reactions’, this exhibit is a reminder of the human desire to be heard.
We all like having someone to share our love, anger, admiration, frustration with – and ‘I hear you’ is an invitation to do just that. Speak your heart out, share something you’ve never shared before – to a stranger, or to a loved one – and find the joy in knowing that you’re being heard.
Color works
Lockdown was a great time to experiment with my artwork style, I had acrylic colors with me which were not used for a while. going back to colors after almost 10 years was like a toddler learning to walk, it felt like a new dimension, a new world altogether. I had so lots of fun working on these pieces.
"Room with a view" Installation at Foundry Dubai.
Traveling is something i really enjoy, it opens up new dimensions, and i really cherish every place that I visit. For me the best way to remember any place is by drawing it, when ever i’m traveling, i carry a lot of sketching material, i like to draw what ever interests me, it could be the streets, monuments, people, food etc.
I come back and then I try to remember all these experiences and i start drawing them, these illustrations have no geographical accuracy, they are all randomly placed, i just go about drawing them in the order I visit or see them, thats the reason the perspectives are all wrong the angles are all messed up, but thats what i like about them.
“A room with a view” is a glimpse of my last travel, which was in Greece in 2019.
It is an experience which is meant to go beyond 2 dimensions, my attempt was to create something that feels immersive and personal.
Art of looking workshop-Prague
Last September I had a privilege of hosting the Art of Looking workshop in Prague, loved the whole experience, specially the venue @vnitroblock has so much character, I was told it was an old factory that was converted it into this cool event/gallery space, also a big thanks to the sneaker store @footshop for the collaboration and @freearchitects for making this all possible.
Think deeper
In my last week at VMLY&R, Dubai I decided to paint this mural which I had in mind for long, it was a parting gift for a place where is spent 6 and half years and cherished every bit of it, a piece that I hope will stay there for a while, and something for people to remember me by and get inspired.
Cannes wall art
Cannes illustrated on my office wall, i was really nervous and unsure of drawing this in the beginning, didn’t know what the end result would look like but i’m glad i did it. Also the whole process from where it started and where it is now is an incredible journey.
Sikka Art Fair 2019
Earlier this year I was honoured to be chosen as one of the artists at Sikka Art Fair. Had an absolute fun experience working for over 3 nights finishing a 4 meter mural that was themed around “Tolerance”. The festival itself is a one of a kind experience, as you get to see art spread around narrow historical lanes and tiny rooms that open up only for the festival, along with some impeccable live performances by the local artists. All of this put together by a talented bunch of individuals. Thank you all the friends who where there to show their support and special thanks to Dubai Culture for supporting the local artists and providing us with such an amazing platform.
Illustrating the land of chocolates, cheese and watches
Art of Looking Workshop
Had one of the most rewarding experience at Dubai design district, hosting the art workshop for a bunch of extremely talented individuals from all over UAE. The workshop was mainly focussed around how to look at things around you differently.
We all tend to ignore or overlook ideas that are around us, this workshop was mainly designed to trigger this thinking process.
The workshop involved 5 stages of art related activities that highlighted various aspects of the art of looking leading up to the the final stage which was about customising and designing your own product. Overall it was a very satisfying and a humbling experience, and at the end of it i felt i got to learn more than what i could teach from each participant.
Portfolio Nights Dubai
Had a great privilege of working on the campaign for the regions first Portfolio Nights held in Dubai, organised by BW report in association with The Oneshow Awards.
Portfolio Night Is the world’s largest advertising portfolio review and the biggest and most prestigious in the MENA region. A phenomenal event for young advertising creatives to meet renowned agencies senior creative leaders and get the advice they need to become better creatives.
Felt extremely honoured to create these unique series of illustrations mixed with and brush typography.
https://www.bwreport.org/pn-about/
In Press
Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
Stripping the world of colours is not an idea generally espoused by artists. And yet, this is exactly what Kapil Bhimekar does. The 35-year-old Dubai-based illustrator has been carving a niche for himself with his quirky illustrations and wall art. The most intriguing aspect of his work? Not only is it black and white with a dash of colour thrown in once in a while, Kapil uses elements from his surroundings to establish an instant connect between his work and the environment it's part of. Sounds avant garde? It isn't.
Sample this: for the bibliophiles, cinephiles and art-loving folk in Dubai, A4 Space in Alserkal Avenue makes for a superb retreat from the hustle bustle of the city. Until recently, its interiors had a black exhaust pipe - running all the way from the ceiling to the middle of the walls - that was doing absolutely no favours to its otherwise quirky décor. That's when the owners decided to let Kapil add his touch to the walls. "Initially, I tried to convince them to paint it white so that I could create something without any intervention, but the management did not agree," he recalls. Taking matters into his own hand, Kapil decided to use the black pipe as a bark of a tree and drew branches around it. From each branch hung a different offering from A4 - like a library, a café and a movie screening.
A clever PR exercise that also made for great art. The twain do not always meet, but, in this case, Kapil's background in advertising came in handy. Juggling between a day job (he is associate creative director at Young & Rubicam, Dubai) and his passion for larger-than-life illustrations is no cakewalk. What helps, explains Kapil, is that both are creative pursuits. "In advertising, you are given a brief. In other words, you are given a problem that you are supposed to solve with your work. The real-life objects that become part of my illustrations, I see them as real world briefs that need to be responded to with my drawings."
Drawing inspiration from external elements - such as the pipe mentioned above or a hook - means that there are times when he keeps looking at an object, as random as they may seem to a non-artistic eye, long enough to imagine a story around them. But his process, insists Kapil, is more fluid. "Sometimes I keep looking at an object and see different things around it and then draw. And then there are times when I draw first and then look for a suitable element to complete the illustration. There is no real formula or written rule. It's all imagination."
Looking at his works, their subtle messages and the form, there is a temptation to label Kapil's illustrations as being interventionist art. And why not? Take, for example, one of his recent illustrations where he draws fish inside a water dispenser with a man dispensing water from it. In this 'regular', 'quirky' illustration, Kapil makes a larger point about water conservation and how we have terrifyingly little time to address the issue and actually make a difference.
The artist, however, is wary of such nomenclatures being assigned to his work. "I don't try to create art. I see art in things around me. I feel anything you create should be effortless. If art tries too hard to create an impression, it loses impact. I keep my work honest, simple and minimal. I am not trying to change the world; I am merely co-existing," says the alumnus of Mumbai's prestigious J.J. School of Art.
Much of the appeal of the drawings also emerge from the lack of too many colours. It's as much a challenge to draw in black and white as it is a pleasure because "black and white is a very strong palette". "It's graphic and I love the minimalism it has. In my works, I am trying to convey a story using minimum lines and forms. I also feel it's a great challenge as an artist to create maximum impact using minimum colours," he adds.
If the artist comes across as modest, the man underneath is also unassuming. Given the adulation his works have received, one is tempted to ask that very obvious, very run-of-the-mill question - 'what next?' "I want to continue doing what I am doing. I have never been a great planner, as my wife would testify," jokes Kapil, while adding that a couple of projects on environmental design are underway as are some installations. Clearly, the world is a canvas to his imagination.
'Behind the scenes'
The wall art created for a theatre space The Junction in Al Quoz, Dubai. The theme was to show all behind the stage 'drama'.
Sketches
The 'Fun' Ride
olioli is a newly opened kids museum in Dubai, it offers kids with best science themed play areas, that combines education and fun.
The space had a huge window in the cafe that was offered to me as a canvas to create something and i accepted it with pleasure, after working with the team at olioli i decided create this wall art for the space. Every time i visit the cafe is brings a big smile on my face, i hope the kids love it too.
The Art of 'Obstruction'
The A4 Space in Alserkal Avenue makes for a superb retreat from the hustle bustle of the city. Until recently, its interiors had a black exhaust pipe - running all the way from the ceiling to the middle of the walls - that was doing absolutely no favours to its otherwise quirky décor. That's when i was contacted to create something for the wall, that shows the offerings of the space in an interesting manner. Initially, I tried to convince them to paint it white so that I could create something without any intervention, but that was not the solution. After giving it some thought, I decided to use the black pipe as a part of my illustration rather than seeing it as an obstruction.
Quoz Art Fest 2017
It was a great experience to be able to express my self as an artist, i was invited to create an art for public space in Alserkal Avenue.
The tension created between the prop (Manhole) and the subject of the drawing made it more engaging i feel.
Dog walker