Doodle Mapuls is a Mumbai-based illustrator collective whose work is instantly recognizable for the way it harnesses the collective aesthetic vibrancy of Asian cultural aesthetics and amalgamates it with a striking post-modern visual style that has found itself on everything from posters to sneakers to matchboxes. We spoke to the enigmatic collective about their latest artistic endeavour –– The Culture Collection ‘22, in order to get some insight into how they conceptualize and bring their art to life.
Could you tell us a little about your latest project?
The Culture Collection ‘22 is a series of carpets which are curated keeping in mind a culture of vivid colours, elements from around you, and most importantly a vibe that fills a space. These carpets are a medium of interpretation of design which acts as our canvas. They are pieces of art which become a part of your space, thus bringing in a sensation of curiosity and hype that may be either complimenting or contrasting. Each carpet focuses on elements from Kingdom Animalia which is deep-rooted in our culture; a culture that respects the space from which one evolves.
What are some of your biggest inspirations over the years of your artistic career?
The minute details of life that one sees yet does not notice play a major influence on our art. These are elements that when placed alone do not make an impact but, when composed together create a piece that makes an individual notice the elements of surprise and thus lead to the generation of a thought.
The culture surrounding us has a huge influence on our art. The vibe of the place we lived since we remember is the vibe that translates through our designs. We live in a land of colour, detail, intricacies, and exclusivity.
Describe your creative process and the purpose with which you create.
We start off with the question ‘why?’ –– why would another individual spend time looking at the art? This question is to the question of ‘how?’–– how do we make the time the individual spends looking at our art fruitful? These two questions are when we start thinking of what is something that an individual sees but does not notice. That is where we start picking up our pens and scribbling and brainstorming. And then eventually the illustration leads us to the conclusion.
What are some of your biggest influences as an artist?
We always like to spend time thinking about the idea behind the art more than the actual execution of the art.
What are some things you learned while putting this project together?
The most important lesson that we learned while putting this project together was the importance of trusting the process, trusting the art, and trusting the outcome. The process helped us discover combinations of colour that we never thought would go together. The pockets of surprise while composing elements helped us understand the principles of design. The basics are of the utmost importance.
Who are some artists who are currently on your radar?
Kaws, Mura Kami Art, and Keith Haring.
A project you wish you were a part of?
A project with Redbull has always been on our checklist. The limitless possibilities are the reason along with the impact they have.
You can follow Doodle Mapuls here.
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