CV
Kohenoor Kamal
Designer & Illustrator
26 Hawarden Avenue,
Liverpool,
L17 2AL
07493192497
koynikamal@gmail.com
Personal Statement:
I am a creative freelancer with a background in graphic design and a particular interest in illustration. Over the past four years, I have combined my heritage and upbringing as a Bangladeshi-British artist to create a Multidisciplinary practice that spans across various fields, including motion design and illustration and Graphic Design. As someone who understands the challenges of getting into the creative industry I have taken part in mentoring programs for students and self-taught creatives. I have provided mentoring through The Arena as well as informally through the network of creatives I have connected with to provide advice and insights into my multidisciplinary practices. Many of these creatives are based up north or in areas of the uk where access to creative opportunities are hard to come by so I haved supported and aided creatives in their own personal endeavours by relaying my personal experiences and network of opportunities to help them with their practices.
Recently, I worked on a challenging project for True Talk Africa, where I provided the creative direction for their first children's book. I produced and condensed intricate illustrations in a tight turn around project to meet print deadlines which is a piece of print I’m really happy to put my name towards. The book itself includes words by writer Afua Imoh who has an extensive portfolio of working with schools and educators and to be able to lead the visual interpretation of her words is a super humbling task and I’m really proud to have been able to work with her on this. The book carries experiences of those who had been involved in WW2 which was challenging in itself to curate and illustrate the elements features within the manuscript as well as ensuring this was engaging for children of a young demographic.
I am also an active member of the Liverpool East and South East Asian Network, a collective of volunteers that highlights the works of Asian creatives based in the city which had grown out the frustration towards the lack of opportunities for Asian creatives. The group which has initially started from a small hand full of creatives which has now successfully produced an array of events and brought people from all around the city and beyond to celebrate their array of creative endeavours and works. Being part of this group was really important to me as I had felt very disconnected from own ethnic background and growling up in the uk with this dual nationality. Although I have a network of creatives I speak to online and being part of the Fuse Leeds and Manchester network, having a physical and in person collective who I meet often and regularly is an important part of my self development as well as my practice.
I have recently worked with WUKA, Award-winning period underwear brand WUKA (Wake Up Kick Ass) with its first ever taboo-busting digital OOH billboard campaign entitled “The WUKA Wedding” across Westfield and Lewisham Shopping Centres London in partnership with JCDecaux UK.
Set against the backdrop of a colourful Indian wedding, the campaign features five influential South Asian women as they navigate different phases of their menstrual cycle - from first periods to menopause. Just like periods, each woman carries a sari differently and every sari tells a story about the individual who embodies it. The “leak-proof aunties”, “period powerful beti (young girl)” and “drip-free dadi (granny)”, are captured celebrating - leak-free, confident and comfy in their WUKA’s- under their bright and colourful wedding outfits.
Inspired by WUKA founder Ruby Raut’s own #DesiPeriodStory growing up in Nepal where she was banished for bleeding and given her mother’s old sari rags to use as period pads, the campaign aims to encourage more conversations around menstruation so that periods, like sari’s, are nothing to be ashamed of.
Exhibitions:
Made It, The Alumni Strikes Back, Paradise Works (2023)
Lunar New Year GIF Festival, FACT Gallery, Liverpool (2023)
'What's for Tea? Exhibit', The Bridewell Gallery, Liverpool (2022)
'Are You Messin? Exhibit' The Bluecoat, Liverpool (2022)
Out of Context. Colours May Vary, Leeds (2020)
Low Key. Colours May Vary, Leeds (2019)
Find and Seek. Leeds Corn Exchange, Leeds (2019)
Depot. Wharf Chambers, Leeds (2018)
Past experience:
2024 Food Trail Calender, Jess Howell (2023)
Advertising & Digital Marketing Executive, Alonica Roasters, Sept - November 2023
Courses For Discourses, GLOAM Gallery, 2023
The Wuka Wedding, WUKA, 2023
Illustration Workshop, Culture Warrington, 2023
Beyond 2023, Leeds Inspired, 2023
Storied Untold, True Talk Africa, 2023
Learning Resources, International Slavery Museum, 2023
Food Illustrations, Dishoom, 2023
Lunar New Year GIF Festival, FACT, 2023
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If you’d like to find out more or learn more about the projects mentioned feel free to contact me or explore my portfolio to find in depth studies of the projects and more.