Discovering Akmal Shaukat

I did not know personally Akmal, but I was already a little familiar with his work. At the latest women’s fashion shows in Milan for the spring/summer 2012, for example, I fell in love with the ticket invitation to Francesco Scognamiglio’ show, now part of the many things I’ve collected in my ‘Archive Guerrini’, and later I discovered that is his work. Looking through Akaml Shaukat’s works in his official website (www.akmalshaukat.com) I admired a lot his  illustrations, which are now also followed by the art direction of artistic and photographic projects, and I was struck by a photo shoot done by photographer Simon, in which Akmal not only provided the art direction and the illustrations but was also the protagonist, posing in déshabillé. Intrigued by this artistic environment and brave decision I contacted him to learn more about his path, I’ve found a young man that has clear ideas and lot of things to tell. And here is the result of our chat.

Sweet Dreams #1, 1883 Magazine Issue 2

First of all, you are well known as an illustrator. Could you tell us how did it all begin?
I was born in Bradford, in the North of England. Graduated from Bradford School of Art in Graphic Media Communication and continued to complete my Master’s in History of Visual Culture. There wasn’t a particular moment when I thought: “Wow, I’m creative”, I always had a passion for art and I began to receive very positive feedback. I didn’t choose my career, my career chose me! My passion for design and the visual arts made my career an inevitable journey.
How did you become an artist and how did you develop a relationship with the fashion world?
Fashion, particularly influenced by the media, sets a standard, which society tends to follow. My work is an attempt to understand emotions and moods and the closest object I can find that can relate and narrate my expression of moods and emotions is the female form. I found that there was a demand for my work within the field of fashion, hence I catered for this demand.
Now you are more than a simply illustrator. Could you tell us which are in your opinion the most important steps of your career?
The goal in my beginning was always to start, to move forward in a good direction. It’s always important to make accomplishments, from a conceptual illustrator I moved forward by becoming a story teller through my illustrations and to art direction. It’s important to feel satisfied by a good job which you have accomplished but it’s always important to remember the bad as you don’t want to repeat the same mistakes twice.
Could you describe your art? Personally I think there’s a certain sensuality in your illustrations. Am I right?
My art provides extreme realism to mundane subject matter. This means that, rather than simply looking at the surface of a person, object or concept, I unwrap the levels of mystery to look at the core. There are many new worlds and realms to explore, which are still alien to current society; deeper mysteries will always threaten the simple and the ingenuous.  I bypass political correctness, cliché or convention, to get to the heart of the matter – to intrigue or make a statement. My art opens doors for people who dare to go through them, into a weird and seductive wonderland that is still connected to, or a representation of, reality.  Combining this forms the sensuality, sensitivity, intensity and the beautiful.
Which is in your opinion the relationship between art and fashion?
Art and fashion were more closely tied at the turn of the twentieth century. We are experiencing a revolution and a fusion of the two entities. As this fusion continues to evolve and change, creating new forms of expressing oneself through their clothing. Combining art and fashion.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I find my inspiration from current pop culture and my day to day personal experiences.
Are there other artist and illustrators that you like?
Pierre Molinier, Salvador Dalí and Romare Bearden.
In the latest years fashion illustration has blossomed again. Why do you think this has happened?
I don’t think fashion illustration disappeared or was not blossomed for a certain period of time. I just think people just did not see them in the high fashion glossy magazines.  It was just in another place. It does deserve to be alongside photography, as it gives an alternative narrative to fashion.   
You have worked with some italian creative people for example Francesco Scognamiglio. How did it happen to work for Francesco for instance and what do you think about italian fashion compared to designers abroad?
Scognamiglio’s aesthetic is one I admire; it’s a nice and fresh image that can only be appreciated.  I find that Italian fashion does not have in its modus operandi incubate upcoming designers. And it’s something that british, french and american fashion have always worked on, but I do believe Italian fashion is now moving forth.    
Recently you decided to pose nude. Why did you decide to pose naked and being a model?
I don’t class myself as a model but an Artist, I find it a freedom of an expression or the mood that I would feel reflecting on ones personality in that moment. It’s revealing a surface of yourself, an animalistic sense to lose yourself in this constructive society or world. So with this conception I decided to pose nude for TOH! Magazine which was a feature regarding my work and the person hiding behind strips of garments.
What is in your opinion beautiful nowadays. Can you give me your personal definition of beauty?
There’s two sides of a beauty, first is what I call the gaze, properties that are pleasing to the eye, and then the inner beauty. My definition of beauty is the most repulsive to the most captivating. It’s beautiful to understand confidence and the sexiness of one’s self. 
Which projects are you working on at the moment? Future plans? Dreams?
I have a demand of my work in fashion advertising and creative art direction, conceptual editorial stories and most recently working on fabric prints for a few fashion houses. I am also working on a future exhibition.

ME Art Project, Photographer Simon, Model Andreea Stancu, Emilio Flores

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