Indian graphic designer Khyati Trehan creates stunning visuals for the Oscars 2022

While the 94^th Academy Awards packed a lot of action (yes, we are referring to the Will Smith controversy), the Oscars paid close attention to including the best creatives from the world and honoured their determination, perseverance in their practice. One of the eight creatives who were invited to contribute to the Academy Awards 2022 is the Indian origin graphic designer and 3D artist, Khyati Trehan. Known for her digital art that appears fluid in nature, and her active participation in 36 Days of Type, a project that invites designers, illustrators and artists to share their versions of the letter and numbers from the Latin alphabet, one can easily recognise Trehan’s work from a myriad of the graphic arts pool. 

Trehan rendered the final piece for the Oscars art project by incorporating her exceptional skills in Cinema 4D, a professional 3D and 4D modelling software, motion graphics and more. With multiple layers in the process, the graphic artist paid immense attention to the intricate details which contributed to the eventual masterpiece. The Oscar figure in the centre exhibits delicate mid-tones and high tones when zoomed in, and the texture is evident which adds to the realistic aura. 

"Movies are the vehicles of the mind. Our bodies are in one place but everything else that makes us living, breathing human beings are busy feeling, absorbing and believing the stories and characters that the art of filmmaking so beautifully sketches. The Oscars are a celebration of the diversity of voices and people that are masters of this very art. My exploration is an attempt at making the immersive power of movies visual; the Oscar statue acts as a representation of every movie viewer that is transported to another world, watching the story unravel all around them," states the Indian artist.

Her work was an imperative part of the Oscar winners’ announcement, particularly for the winners of animated feature film, live-action short film, makeup and hairstyling, and original screenplay.

Trehan’s work is a visual treat for the eyes. She incorporates a playful colour palette within her work that reverberates a deep sense of calm. Arousing intense emotions through three-dimensional work, Trehan’s practice has been featured in publications such as WIRED, Vice, Communication Arts, Fast Company, Creative Review, It’s Nice That and Wepresent among others. Khyati was one of Print Magazine's 15 New Visual Artists under 30 in 2017, was chosen as the Artistry Creator of the Year at Adweek’s Creator Visionary Awards, is a Young Guns 19 Winner, and most recently made it to the Forbes India 30 under 30 list.

Based in New Delhi, Trehan has always been inclined toward the visual arts. She graduated from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad in 2014 and has since gone on to work across disciplines, often exploring the edges of all things visual. She previously worked at IDEO Munich as a senior communication designer. While establishing her work and growing as an artist there, she also worked for clients including Instagram, Snapchat, New Yorker Magazine, the New York Times, Samsung, PRINT, Wework, Adobe and Apple.

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A global community of more than 10,000 of the most accomplished artists, filmmakers and executives working in film, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognises excellence in filmmaking through the Oscars. For the 94^th Oscars ceremony, the Academy invited eight artists, David Mcleod, Oscar Okuno, Ari Weinkle, Anna Roberts, Shane Fu, Sally Jo, Khyati Trehan, and Vasya Kolotusha,  from around the world to each create a representation of the Oscar statuette inspired by their own personal appreciation of movies. Trehan’s portrayal of the Oscar award comprised her renowned artistic style which is abstract digital art, visually pleasing to the eyes and inspired by her views.

(Text by Vatsala Sethi, Asst. Editorial Coordinator (Arts))