In a tucked-away industrial building in the heart of Mumbai, Sameer Kulavoor’s studio buzzes with creative energy. Shared with his sister Zeenat Kulavoor of Bombay Duck Designs and brother-in-law Prajval Mendon, a designer and printmaker, the space exudes a collaborative spirit that bridges craft and artistry. Among the notebooks, bison board, and a large print of the family cat—memories of Zeenat’s wedding—Kulavoor’s deep connection to the motifs of Mumbai comes vividly to life.
For Kulavoor, Mumbai is more than a city; it is a living, evolving organism shaped by its inhabitants and in turn shaping their lives. “Growing up in the ‘90s, I saw the city transform before my eyes,” he recalls, reflecting on India’s economic liberalization and the dawn of the internet era. These changes redefined urban rhythms, creating complex, invisible ecologies that Kulavoor dissects through his art.
The studio walls are lined with books, posters, signage, stationery, and self-published works, embodying his fascination with print as a tactile medium. “Books invite you to pause and engage. There’s something intimate about flipping through pages, discovering a world one fold at a time,” he says, holding up an accordion-style book he designed. This hands-on sensibility permeates his practice, which spans drawings, paintings, murals, zines, and sculptures. His work transforms ordinary urban experiences into profound visual narratives, capturing the beauty and tension of city life.
From the chaos of Mumbai’s streets to the quiet poetry of a fading façade, Kulavoor’s art reframes the familiar. “Art fills the gaps that words can’t,” he explains, summarizing his approach to defamiliarizing the mundane and revealing fresh perspectives. His works are both deeply observational and conceptually incisive, encouraging viewers to question the mechanics of urban spaces.
Kulavoor’s artistic journey began with Bombay Duck Designs, one of India’s pioneering design and illustration studios, which he co-founded with Zeenat. While the studio gained acclaim for its vibrant, playful ethos, Kulavoor eventually transitioned to a more introspective solo practice. This shift mirrors the complexity of his work, which oscillates between instinctive exploration and structured intervention.
In this BMW Artist Film, we explore Kulavoor’s studio and his ongoing project, Art hi Art. True to the electric sign at his studio entrance, the space is a microcosm of creative chaos, where paper experiments and unfinished sketches compete for space with screen-printing tools and ink-stained tables. Like the city itself, the studio is in perpetual flux, shaped by the interplay of old and new. “The city is my biggest influence—it’s like a collaborator in my work,” he says, gesturing to a mural-in-progress depicting the interplay of light, shadow, and movement on a bustling street corner.
Kulavoor’s work is a love letter to Mumbai and its contradictions, transforming its chaotic pulse into meditative reflections.
Born in 1983 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Sameer Kulavoor currently lives and works in the city. His work will be presented by TARQ at India Art Fair 2025.