Allen Shaw Showcases Artistic Evolution and Design Influences on 13th Day of Tribal Futures Fest

At the Tribal Futures Fest, Allen Satyajit Shaw, a seasoned artist, illustrator, designer, and animator, delivered a compelling 30-minute online talk that traced his 25-year journey of sketching daily lives. His presentation showcased a visual documentation of his artistic evolution, highlighting his transition from a small hamlet in Bihar to the vibrant cultural landscape of Berlin.The session was moderated by Swati Lakra, architect based in Odisha.

During the presentation Allen featured an array of his sketches, reflecting everyday moments and diverse stories from his global travels. His sketches, inspired by people-watching in marketplaces and experiences at bicycle fairs, serve as a visual diary chronicling his growth. Notably, Shaw’s animation work for the song "Noodle Sa Dil" from the movie All India Rank, directed by Varun Grover, was also highlighted, adding another dimension to his creative repertoire.

In Image: Allen Shaw during his presentation at Tribal Future Fest

His exhibit included postcards painted with watercolors and coffee, which funded his international travels. His long standing involvement with the Bicycle Fair in Berlin was evident through vibrant poster illustrations, and he also received commissions from an NGO in Switzerland. Milestones such as designing covers for twenty-five HarperCollins books and collaborating on a poetry book with Gulzar further showcased his artistic versatility. Allen also spoke about M.P. Ranjan, a renowned and legendary figure in Design in India. He described how design education influenced his approach, encouraging him to adopt a design thinking process that has greatly benefited his creative work.

The session concluded with a 30-minute Q&A, where Shaw engaged with the audience on the nuances of sketching, the impact of cultural and geographical experiences on his work, and his broader artistic exploration. Shaw’s presentation at the Tribal Futures Fest was a vivid reflection of his artistic journey and his dedication to capturing and sharing the world through his art.

This Tribal Futures series is based on these creative imaginations which, over the next 24 days, is bringing together creative professionals and designers from different tribal communities across the country onto a single platform. 

This is India's first-of-its-kind event, conceived and executed by creative professionals and designers from various tribal communities across the country. The forum believes that if India's tribal youth cannot imagine their future, they cannot build it. Therefore, the Tribal Design Forum is celebrating World Indigenous Day not as a one-day celebration of dance but as a 30-day series of intellectual and creative discussions to present a new face of the contemporary creative tribal community to the world and inspire the youth. 

Today's session illustrated how integrating design thinking and diverse cultural experiences through one’s creative lens can craft compelling visual narratives, reflecting personal and artistic evolution.

Complete information about this series is available at www.tribaldesignforum.com. You can join the TribalFutures online fest by watching it on the Tribal Design Forum's YouTube channel.