BOOMRANNG "Connecting the past and present to the future"
An Interview with BOOMRANNG Studio:
BOOMRANNG Studio is a creative duo from Mumbai. The duo, Sonal Vasave and Makrand Narkar, are known for their colorful works, which are based around a deep love for storytelling and illustration.
The name "BOOMRANNG" is a combination of the English word "BOOM" (explosion) and the Hindi word "RANG" (color), and as the name suggests, the explosion of ideas is a major attraction. In this interview, we will talk about the journey and philosophy of the two artists, and the world view of "COSMICPUNK" that they created together.
Q: How did you meet and get started?
Makrand: We both studied illustration at JJ Institute of Applied Art, Mumbai and met there. Our shared love of stories and animation meant we would talk for hours and our collaboration became a natural fit. Plus, with the support of our parents, we were able to pursue our passion as a career.
Sonal: As a child, I would draw on the floor, walls, or anywhere I could find space. My mother introduced me to storytelling through children's books and comics. This instilled in me a passion for storytelling and paved the way for me to become a professional artist, all thanks to her encouragement.
Storytelling is the art of conveying emotions and information through stories. In Japan, it has developed in a variety of forms, including kataribe (storytellers), rakugo (comic storytelling), anime and manga, and is deeply rooted in everyday life as a way to convey culture and lessons.
Q: It's great that you both had such supportive environments. Can you tell us about the social standing of artists in India?
Makrand: Even now in India, when people ask me what I do for a living and I answer "artist," they are often surprised. While engineers and bankers are the norm, the work of artists is still not well understood.
So in the beginning, I was searching for a way forward while feeling my way. Social issues such as gender equality and diversity are being actively addressed, and the role of artists is becoming more widely recognized. However, times have changed, and the creative field has grown significantly in the last five years with the spread of social media.
Q: What social issues are Indian artists addressing? Are there any that you feel are particularly important?
Sonal: During my time at art school, I worked on projects that focused on the LGBTQ community, specifically transgender women, which made me realise the need to advocate for gender equality through my work.
I believe that "diversity" is even more important in a culture where people from diverse backgrounds coexist, such as in Mumbai. Therefore, I feel that it is essential for me to think about it and promote a deeper understanding in my future activities.
Q: Your work seems to be deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. Could you please elaborate on how this was influenced by your work?
Sonal: Hindu mythology is a rich source of inspiration for us. We particularly love the Panchatantra, with its animal fables and profound moral lessons. We are also heavily influenced by epic poems like the Ramayana and Mahābhāratam.
These stories are diverse and combine science fiction elements with ancient wisdom, providing essential inspiration for our work.
Q: Please tell us about the Japanese artists who influenced you.
Makrand: I am greatly influenced by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. His stories are colorful and full of life, depicting dreamlike worlds, but with deep and universal messages that resonate deeply with children and adults alike.
We too aim to create works that will reach the hearts of a wide range of generations, just like his.
Q: What was the inspiration behind creating the world of "COSMICPUNK"? Also, please tell us about your approach to creating this worldview.
Makrand: At the heart of our philosophy is "retro-futurism," an idea that combines beliefs in the past with a vision for the future. We aim to create a new world by combining traditional Indian culture with a vision of the future.
Sonal: Exploration is at the core of COSMICPUNK. Seeking out the unknown and discovering new possibilities is at the root of our creative work. We value this spirit of exploration and are always open to new ideas, creating retro-futuristic ideas that fuse the past and the future. Our goal is to deliver new perspectives through our work and propose a worldview that embraces diversity and change.
Q: How do you collaborate on projects? If so, what are the specific roles?
Sonal: We work together on the concept and story, then we move on to rough sketches. I mainly focus on character design, drawing costumes and figures, while Makrand works on the overall composition, side elements and color renderings.
However, to keep the approach fresh and experimental, we sometimes switch roles – this collaboration often produces unique and unexpected results.
Q: What is the most important message you want to convey?
Makrand: The biggest message we want to convey is "exploration" and "acceptance of diversity." We aim for a world where everyone is free and equal, without excluding differences such as gender, religion, caste, and even galaxies and planets.
Sonal: In the world of COSMICPUNK, "diversity" is a very important theme. This is because the possibilities for exploration and openness are endless, and nothing should hinder those possibilities. It all starts with "curiosity." And that exploration should not only be directed to the outside world, but also to one's inner self and beliefs.
Sometimes, our biggest obstacle is ourselves. Seeking to achieve more is connected to self-discipline and working towards our passion. Passion is the first priority, followed by respect for diversity. And it requires curiosity and finding the meaning of life for yourself while pursuing what you want to do.
It's important to think for yourself and find your own meaning, rather than being told "how to live" by someone else. Don't follow other people's rules, but live freely through your own exploration. That's one of the messages that COSMIC PUNK wants to convey.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
The world of COSMICPUNK has just begun for us. We want to expand even further, explore many possibilities, and create a community with people who share the same values. In that future, we aim to create a place where we can grow together, respecting each other's choices, and enjoying free thinking and creative ways of living. This is truly what we can call the "art of living." We believe it is important not just to spend each day, but to find your own purpose while giving opportunities to others. COSMICPUNK's symbolism of the "Dark Sun" represents the beginning of a journey to explore the unknown, and represents our desire to teach people the importance of courageously following their own path.
We also believe that art is a powerful tool to add value to life and convey emotions and stories that cannot be expressed in words. Exploring the unknown and creating new connections is what we aim to do.
In this interview, we introduced BOOMRANNG's vision of connecting the past and the future. In this age where we can easily come into contact with diverse values and information, it is important not to lose sight of what is truly important to us. And in order to connect the "present" to a hopeful future, we need to understand ourselves, and our own selves, while inheriting the wisdom of the past. BOOMRANNG's work teaches us the importance of this.
interviewer: Eri Tomita (Geek/Art)