kylie minogue is really hard to draw!

kylie minogue . 2020

it's the 28th of may which means it's kylie minogue's birthday!
i remember watching ‘can’t get you out of my head’ for the first time in a c&a store in prague, summer 2001. i was mesmerised by the song and music video. in university, i repeatedly drew the final scene of the video during my bus rides back home. kylie dancing on a rooftop to the chorus was so iconic to me. 19 years later, i thought i’d draw it again this year on the occasion of her birthday. i must say i like how it turned out, but my goodness kylie minogue is so hard to draw!

those who know me know how much of a fan i am of ms. minogue. i have to thank my sisters, who listened to her music around me during the late 80s & early 90s. my fandom came to fruition by the end of the 90s during my final years in high school. when her seventh studio album ‘light years’ was released, i was officially team kylie! her music has been a constant in my life, and got me through the best and worst of times – listening to her songs while stressed in the studio, chilling at home, or singing loudly in my car.
in addition to the music, her collaborations with william baker and tony hung have always been a point of reference and inspiration to me, influencing my work in some form or another. her music videos, album artworks, stage designs and costumes are some of the best examples of art and design in contemporary music and pop culture.

i’ve never met kylie, but i’ve watched her perform ten times so far – my first was at the x tour in Madrid, 2008. i hope i could meet her one day (universe, please see this and work your magic!). until then, i hope this post crosses kylie’s path. and if it does, i hope she likes what she sees.

thank you for the music, the entertainment, the inspiration, and for sharing the same initials as me! can’t wait for what’s next. until then, happy birthday kylie minogue.

garden gathering

'garden gathering' mini comic . 2020

 

illustrations for 'garden gathering' mini comic . 2020 

i write this post as ramadan slowly comes to a close. and what a strange ramadan it's been. i'm still quarantined at home, with the occasional stepping out for running errands. ramadan is usually filled with gatherings amongst friends and family, yet this year no one has been able to do so. and for those not following social distancing rules have faced the consequences – news reports mention cases where communal gatherings have occurred and those in attendance were exposed to the virus. so ramadan this year has been quite intimate and simple for me – staying at home for most of the time, and experiencing it with just my mother and sister.

in terms of making work, i feel a momentum slowly picking up again. since my last post, i've been drawing more, and had the opportunity to work on a couple of illustration-based projects, one being the mini comic you see above. titled 'garden gathering', this short story is about longing for interaction with the outside world, and making new friends where you least expect it. here's a quick description:

my time of late involves staring into the distance from my balcony at home, missing the outside world and the people i interact with. and yet, i've made new friends during my time indoors – a lovely pigeon who stops by for a break at my window, and a cat who's made the outdoor garden her new home. we keep each other company every afternoon, until we part ways in anticipation of gathering again the next day.

'garden gathering' was originally commissioned for warehouse 421's "jam'atna" series, in collaboration with artist and educator rania jishi of naqd critique, and independent consultant and creative nahla tabaa. "jam'atna", which translates to 'our gathering', invited a group of artists to interpret what gathering and being together means during these quarantined times, especially during the month of ramadan. i'm really happy with the final result of the mini comic, and can't thank the team behind "jam'atna" for the opportunity. it definitely sparked my drive to create once again, and i hope i can keep the momentum going. if you'd like to have a look at the other "jam'atna" contributions, head to the highlights section on warehouse 421's instagram page. 

until the next post, stay safe, healthy and indoors.