Hexcode is a year-long nationwide contest for young artists, designers, and creators. Initiated in 2017, this is Hexcode’s second edition. The contest is a platform to discover the incredible talent emerging out of India and serves as a launchpad to exciting career and mentorship opportunities.
Category 1: Graphic Design & Illustration
Hexcode 2019-20, our nationwide contest to recognize emerging creators has officially reached a conclusion for Category 1: Graphic Design and Illustration after two extensive months of submissions and meticulous selection of the entries.
We received more than 1500 entries out which the Top 50 were shortlisted who then qualified for the next round. All the shortlisted contestants were briefed to submit their concept on ‘The Soul of India” and out of these Top 50, our Jury Panel consisting of Lokesh Karekar and Saumin Patel selected the Top 10 who had 3 weeks to work on their concept of ‘The Soul of India’ under the guidance of their mentor.
The winner Hexcode 2019-20 Category 1: Graphic Design and Illustration is Kassandra Fernandes and she won a Wacom Intuos along with a cash prize.
Here’s what our 10 finalists had to say about their concept and their final artwork on ‘The Soul of India’ :
Kassandra Fernandes (Category 1 Winner):
Mumbai
Mentor: Saumin Patel
Concept:
I believe that no single facet or being can represent our vast pluralistic and diverse nation as it’s multiplicity goes across the terrain, language, culture, religion, and even our appearance!
Every Indian absorbs various aspects of the nation and the unique permutations and combinations that are endless and yet each one of us is as ‘Indian’ as the next person.
We the people of this mighty nation along with every animate and inanimate factor influence ‘The Soul of India’! I am my country, I am my India!
If you could collaborate with the same mentor and work on a different project, what would it be?
It was great working with Saumin. I would love to collaborate with him on designing new characters for a story.
To know more about Kassandra, follow her on IndieFolio Network.
Aanchal Thapa
Sikkim
Mentor: Lokesh Karekar
Concept:
My concept for ‘The Soul of India’ is rather minimal. Yes, India is a diverse nation but in my personal experience it is the small things that make us ‘Indians’ & among those hundred is ‘one chai’. Chai brings us together in a way nothing else can and we can all bet on this that every memory of an Indian has chai in it.
Therefore my illustration is an amalgamation of the two representing that every soul from every corner of India was, is and will always be conversing in their languages bonding, sharing, crying, and laughing over one common chai making us all connected.
How long did it take to conceptualize your design for ‘The Soul of India’?
It took me two and a half weeks to come up with the concept as I wanted my vision to have a meaning which every Indian could relate to.
To know more about Aanchal, follow her on IndieFolio Network.
Alishka Shah
Mumbai
Mentor: Saumin Patel
Concept:
‘The Soul of India’ is what strings traditions, beliefs, people, and their stories together. It is indeed, in this spirit of connectivity and collaboration, co-existence, and coordination that the soul of a country thrives.
The true essence of India can be experienced in something as simple as the unexpected conversations you have with random strangers like your autowala, the passenger next to you on any public transport.
That one vehicle, one compartment, one seat, and one ride is packed with a dozen stories, conversations, and memories which are quintessentially Indian.
According to you what are some things a designer should consider while collaborating with industry experts or artists like our mentors?
It was an absolute honour to be mentored by Saumin Patel during my Hexcode journey as his inputs and suggestions really helped the project materialize from an initial concept stage.
Full-blown exchange of creative ideas and opinions and thorough exploration along crucial stages of the design process is an essential aspect of collaboration.
Professionalism in terms of timelines and presentation is also something that must be kept in check to ensure smooth communication and delivery.
To know more about Alishka, follow her on IndieFolio Network.
Dhruvil Shah
Mumbai
Mentor: Lokesh Karekar
Concept:
India is more than just a country, it’s an ever-growing tree that encompasses a vast cultural and historical diversity. The roots that anchor this tree of heterogeneity are languages.
There are 22 major languages in India, written in 13 different scripts, with over 720 dialects and Sanskrit is the seed that roots all these Indian languages.
It is the language in which all India’s past greatness, her rich thoughts, and her spiritual aspirations are enshrined.
What was your approach to begin with while creating around the concept of “The Soul of India”?
I knew I wasn’t going to do something ordinary when I first received the brief.
Being an open brief, I did not want to stick to the first thing that came to my mind but I dug deep and realised it wasn’t just our values that connected the people of India together.
Sanskrit, being the mother of all languages, binds all the different languages and people together.
To know more about Dhruvil, follow him on IndieFolio Network.
Mohammad Azad
New Delhi
Mentor: Lokesh Karekar
Concept:
I think the ‘Soul of India’ is the enlightened gurus or realized beings who came from different parts of India & walked the Indian landscapes in different timelines to not just guide our nation but the whole world.
Initially, I was trying to compile 2 to 4 different portraits of the gurus in an abstract manner, which includes Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Paramhansa Yogananda and, of course, Sadhguru.
However, at the time of submitting the concept, I didn’t know what the arrangement of these portraits will be with the discs so I took an exploratory approach towards the visual rather than defining it in the first place and the idea of the abstract portraiture came from the abstract word “soul” itself.
What were your favourite moments while working on “The Soul of India”?
An abstract concept from the head taking shape in a physical world is itself bit crazy. I enjoyed the whole process right from creating the concept to the final artwork thoroughly.
To know more about Mohammad, follow him on IndieFolio Network.
Sanjay Reddy
Delhi
Mentor: Lokesh Karekar
Concept:
Co-Existence: We are very different people but we somehow manage to understand the confusion, make this chaos work and exist together.
I used different languages spoken in India to represent this mood. It is about the peaceful coexistence, the existence of different systems side by side, to live with mutual toleration and being compatible with one another.
What was the inspiration for your submission for ‘The Soul of India’?
I took a personal approach that relates to my experience. I lived in Europe for two years where I came across people from different nations and noticed that some countries are trying to make their society a multicultural one but are struggling to do that. It is only in India that you will find people from all walks of life existing with a perfect blend together. This was my inspiration behind my concept for “The Soul of India”.
To know more about Sanjay, follow him on IndieFolio Network.
Siddhartha Valluri
Gurgaon
Mentor: Lokesh Karekar
Concept :
Memories of the Future: Through this concept, my main goal was to showcase the “Soul of India” in a very unique manner, not yet explored.
I wanted to showcase the Indian Temple Architecture, the oldest unique style of architecture that evolved in India from the lens of a futuristic scenario set in the 2100s.
The purpose of such a drastic shift away from the past was to explore the relevance of these past relics in the distant future.
It will essentially be a journey through different possibilities of how the ‘Soul of India’ evolves as time progresses and the pace of life and values of the people living in that era changes.
What do you think about this collaboration with your mentor? How has it improved you?
Getting the opportunity to collaborate and being mentored by Lokesh was really an amazing opportunity and what really stood out for me was that he never tried to change my vision, every piece of advice he gave was filled with encouragement and suggestions to make the best possible version of my idea.
The biggest thing I learned from him was how minor tweaks and suggestions from the right person can have a massive impact on a project and an idea.
To know more about Siddhartha, follow him on IndieFolio Network.
Sarthak Malik
Bhopal
Mentor: Saumin Patel
Concept:
Families are a construct of every civilization and every nation. What roots deep within the families in India are the underlying ’emotions’. People live in families, live by their families and live for their families. These families sacrifice, care and love each other in ways that can surpass general logic.
It is in this warmth and emotions of families that I find the ‘Soul of India.’
How did you find out about Hexcode? What made you want to participate in the IFN’s Hexcode?
I am very much interested in graphic designing and I was looking out for a platform to showcase my artwork and I stumbled upon Hexcode on Instagram and I knew right away I had to participate.
The jury panel was just the cherry on top.
To know more about Sarthak, follow him on IndieFolio Network.
Sneha Dasgupta
Mumbai
Mentor: Saumin Patel
Concept:
When I read that the brief for ‘The Soul of India’, three things immediately popped into my head – cows, Lok & Rajya Sabha, and food. Food was the first thing that made me feel so warm and comfy after moving to this country. It brings people and cultures together in a way that is so welcoming and generous, and it’s always a reason to celebrate the very essence of India.
Describe your submitted artwork style in three words.
Whimsical, poppy and, organic.
To know more about Sneha, follow her on IndieFolio Network.
Vijaya Aswani
Bengaluru
Mentor: Saumin Patel
Concept:
I wasn’t brought up in this country, so when I came to India 8 odd years ago I was amazed by its randomness. Everything is chaos and colour. We Indians just need an excuse to celebrate. We have so many festivals demanding so much excitement out of our tired existential crisis dealing souls.
I’m so thankful for that constant break in monotony our culture demands from us.
So far, what is the most important lesson you’ve learned due to your participation in IFN’s Hexcode?
Take every excuse to draw. 🙂
To know more about Vijaya, follow her on IndieFolio Network.
A special shoutout to our jury members Saumin Patel and Lokesh Karekar for being an integral part of every single step of the process.
Category 2: Animation & 3D Art
We are glad to announce that Category 2: Animation and 3D Art for Hexcode 2019-20, our year-long nationwide design contest, has come to an end after two intense months of submissions, scrutiny, and feedback sessions.
We were overwhelmed with the response we got for our second category. Out of all the entries, the Top 50 were shortlisted who then qualified for the next round.
The Top 50 contestants had to submit their concept on this year’s theme ‘The Soul of India’ and out of these 50 contestants, our Jury Panel consisting of Ninaad Kulkarni and Soumitra Ranade selected the Top 5.
Finally, the Top 5 had 3 weeks to complete their final projects under the guidance of their mentors – Ninaad Kulkarni and Soumitra Ranade.
The winner of Hexcode 2019-20 Category 2: Animation and 3D Art is Pratik Dey who walked away with a Wacom Intuos along with a cash prize.
Pratik Dey (Category 2 Winner):
Ahmedabad
Concept:
According to me the soul of India is Diversity.
Diversity in Beliefs, Subcultures, religion, politics, Economic hierarchy, language, food and much more. Keeping this in mind I want to dwell into the future of India.
The idea takes shape from my love for Science Fiction in Concept, Films and Stories as Sci-fi stories can be set far in the future, they can take place on distant worlds. But in reality, they are about the issues that affect us in the here and now.
About the Artwork:
What could these Characters look like? What would they be doing? What role they’d be playing in society – would they be heroes or villains? This was a speculative thought I wanted to put out in this Project.
I want to dive into the space of suburban an urban audience who are already a part of this digital age.
Describe your experience working with experts such as Ninaad & Soumitra. Do you have any anecdotes you’d like to share?
Getting stuck with an imprint of your initial idea and getting blinded by it is quite easy with an exciting project like this, but Ninaad & Soumitras’ feedback and helped me approach the idea in a holistic way, where I saw the potential of the idea and made me aware of the macro and the micro Implications of putting out a Visual like this.
Especially how my presentation could potentially raise many very important philosophical conversations – it could actually reflect the dynamic relationship between culture and technology.
To know more about Pratik, follow him on IndieFolio Network.
Akshay Tiwari
Bengaluru
Concept:
The thread of freedom is woven strongly into the culture, history and heritage of India.
Our ancient spaces were built with relatively modern thoughts with echoes of intentional fractal design and mathematical intuition that transcended its statistical nature and hold a rhythm of the interplay between being microcosmic and macrocosmic resonate that makes one plunge into one’s own mind and reach a state of great introspection. These are in essence, grand mirrors carved out of stone.
About the artwork:
‘The Soul Sanctuary’ is a meditative mindscape where a soul searching edifice hosts a ritual for faceless beings known as the Pilgrims that journey towards the structure for discovering their identities. The images are crafted with this narrative in mind while communicating the notion that this journey is a penance taken to great heights and the sights one sees at those heights are much connected to the fractality and microcosmic attributes of Hindu cosmology.
Have you ever collaborated with industry experts before or was this your first time? How has this collaboration inspired you to improve?
Yes, I have collaborated with like-minded industry experts on a few occasions. The collaboration with Ninaad and Soumitra was brief but it has revealed to me that there is still a very distinct judgment towards what biases constitute taste compared to the biases that define artistic choices in production – at a very surface level, what one may call the typical ‘narrative versus technical aspects of an image’ debate. The collaboration has inspired me to be much bolder and unfiltered in my communication to weave the fine threads between sublime thoughts and the highest-fidelity of visuals.
To know more about Akshay, follow him on IndieFolio Network.
Pritha Saha
Kolkatta
Concept:
In the end, that which remains is the essence of the realm and not the realm itself. There were billions before me and there will be billions after. At its very core, India is its plethora of stories. We have had a long tradition of storytelling passed down from generation to generation. Over time the stories get a life of their own. Stories are eternal like the soul and will be there long after we are gone. It binds us and also segregates us. It gave birth to religion, politics, strategy, knowledge and even morals.
About the Artwork:
THE LOTUS AND THE SERPENT It is the depiction of the “Soul of India” through Hindu mythology, “The Lotus and the Serpent”. I tried to portray it in a Buddhist scripture and Bengals Patachitra format along with the narration of the events for better understanding.
How did you come up with such an interesting concept for the theme- the Soul of India?
For me the “Soul of India” is the story of India that has survived through the age of time, it is bigger than any one of us individually, it is richer than our individual belief culture history political views. I looked at it as “The whole is greater than the sum of its part” where millions of us will come and go but we will only keep adding to the original story of India. And that story is the “Soul of India”.
Saurabh Mail
Mumbai
Concept:
India consists of a number of religions, languages and cultures. Despite the vast diversity, there’s a bonding and togetherness within. This can also be seen in typography and scripts. A language origins from the core of a script. Scripts can be traced back to ancient times. Out of the existing scripts, 22 are main and there are 5 other scripts in India. Thus, in my opinion, the soul that is aatma of India lies in its scripts.
About the Artwork:
THE SCRIPT FACTORY. Script is one of the most important aspect and integral part of India. I’ve opt for a vibrant and vivid aesthetic for this project to successfully showcase the diversity in scripts and also the journey of script building.
How long did it take to design the entire project? Highlight some of the best as well as most challenging moments you faced while designing it?
It took me around 10 days to design the whole project. I loved sequencing the entire story within a few frames. And managing time was definitely very challenging.
To know more about Saurabh, follow him on IndieFolio Network.
Vishank Kumar
Delhi
Concept:
According to me the eternal chaos that runs through our country describes ‘The Soul Of India’ best. We are not boring but enthusiastic, not dull but colorful. Our festivals, our variety of cuisines, our clothing, our architecture, every little aspect of our heritage is chaotic in a beautiful way.
