New K-TOTEM design by Tom Vienne
In the run-up to the Olympic Games, the City of Kortrijk is organizing all kinds of sporting events. We asked illustrator Tom Vienne to use this sports summer as inspiration for a new K-TOTEM design. Tom was inspired by the muscular bodies of athletes and dynamically brought them together into 1 design.
Tom Vienne is a visual artist from Kortrijk, Belgium. Although he now mostly draws, this changes regularly according to his interests to murals, illustrations or comics. He also plays music with Blue Gene (bass) and Videotrauma (sax).
Can you tell us a little more about the design you did for the K-totem?
I wanted to do something with the bodies of people playing sports, bring them together in a dynamic way into 1 design. While making the design I sometimes forgot which arm or leg belonged to which person, started inventing additional limbs, ... so the different characters grew into one organism.
Where do you get inspiration for your designs?
As much as possible, I try to look for the things that come naturally when I create a design. The whole design process becomes much more enjoyable for me when I give myself the space to start working without a fixed idea about the end result and let my pencil, brush, marker,... go where it wants without judgment.
What illustrators or creatives do you look up to?
I used to copy a lot of Robert Crumb and Raymond Pettibon. Right now I can't quite say who I look up to. I recently went to Off-Comics at the Guislain Museum, which was very impressive. I did think then a few times of “I want to make that too.”
What do you think is the most beautiful spot in Kortrijk?
The Gainsbar has a gorgeous mural.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully a little financially stable and still drawing and making music.
