Cross Border Conversations: STIR video series with global creative changemakers
by STIRworldJul 07, 2020
by Zohra KhanPublished on : Jul 24, 2020
With an intersecting passion for language, music and visual communication, Aniruddh Mehta aka ‘thebigfatminimalist’, the founder of Mumbai-based Studio Bigfat, engages in a fascinating dialogue with Julius Wiedemann from Brazil in the third episode of Cross Border Conversations by STIR X LOCO Design.
With over 20 years of editing and co-authoring design and architecture books with TASCHEN publishing house, and serving as the global Chief Curator with creative education portal Domestika, Julius has come to believe that 'authenticity takes time to evolve – to become a body of its own'. Aniruddh - part designer, part musician, who is well-known for creating the title sequence of the crime thriller, Sacred Games on Netflix - trusts in the ‘ordered chaos’ that emerges from bold, minimal forms and wordless compositions. In the hour-long conversation, the two walk each other through their respective worlds, overlaps and anomalies. They examine creative paradoxes such as the said and unsaid, chaos and cohesion, legibility and illegibility, and comfort and curiosity.
We are living in the sweet spot between guarantees and stimulation. – Julius Wiedemann
Both Julius and Aniruddh agree that the process has no definition. To them, no matter how infinite the world of creativity and its possibilities, it lacks meaning if the journey doesn’t involve a set of universal, yet personal, rules. Most importantly, rule-bending is a critical part of the process, they emphasise, and one must learn to go steady with the randomness.
Organising information and packaging content powerfully is what connects the practices of Julius and Aniruddh. Julius, whose work focuses equally on the written word and the visual language of books, says that the ability of synthesis – of reducing content to bare minimum – is an art in itself, and not science. He elaborates on his 'First Law of Julius' – which states the 30/30/40 equation that outlines comfort, curiosity and learning as the three key ingredients to creating content that truly engages people.
Illegibility is like a puzzle, like a collaboration. You give half the information and engage the person in finding the other half. – Aniruddh Mehta
Aniruddh goes by the famous John Berger saying: "Seeing comes before words". Whether a commercial project or a record label, he feels that it is completely okay to precede the chaos of information with a visual, as long as the latter is powerful enough to pique the viewer’s curiosity.
Having worked on everything from branding, illustration and motion graphics to space design and murals, Aniruddh shares a nugget from his creative process. He says that unlike his peers, who start a project with a doodle or a quick hand-drawn sketch, he likes to think with screens. “I simply cannot draw," he confides in Julius, who goes on to explain how one’s inabilities are as important to creation as their abilities.
All this and a lot more in the video above!
Cross Border Conversations
Curated by Pramiti Madhavji and Amit Gupta, STIR X LOCO Design present candid video conversations among creative professionals across geographical borders and creative disciplines of architecture, design, art and beyond.
LOCO Design: Shape of things to come
Steered by values of leadership and integrity, LOCO Design strives to create aesthetic innovation with a creative essence enriched by design values, master artisans and technical expertise, contributing to a responsible future.
Know more at www.locodesign.in
by Jincy Iype Apr 06, 2021
Eis is a German architectural student and photographer who reimagines dull grey cityscapes to be filled with whimsical, colourful buildings with his Formalismus series.
by Pallavi Mehra Apr 02, 2021
The New Delhi based architect tells STIR how designers can build sustainably, and why there is a need for sustained design intervention to combat disease.
by STIRworld Apr 01, 2021
Designed for the coast of Qatar, the Eco-Floating Hotel generates clean energy by rotating in accordance with the aquatic currents while providing a moving panorama of views.
by Jincy Iype Mar 11, 2021
Roosegaarde speaks about Urban Sun, his latest work that uses far-UVC light to disinfect public spaces, with a hope to make mankind 'architects of the future and not victims'.
get regular updates SIGN UP
Don't have an account?
Sign UpOr you can join with
Already signed up?
LoginOr you can join with
Please select your profession for an enhanced experience.
Tap on things that interests you.
Select the Conversation Category you would like to watch
Please enter your details and click submit.
Comments