the young artist who changed the language of the Stones

If we had to describe pop art using an image, the first object that would come to mind would be Andy Warhol’s famous Campbell can or the iconic portrait of Marilyn Monroe. However, if we wanted to depict the quintessence of carbonated drinks or fast food in one image, the red lettering of Coca-Cola and the two golden arches of McDonald’s would automatically appear before our eyes. Instead, what would happen if we wanted to imagine the symbol of Doom? Without a shadow of a doubt, the very famous language of the Rolling Stones, present everywhere in the world among T-shirts, cups, pencils, posters or all kinds of goods that can be bought in souvenir shops, street markets and, obviously, on the Internet.

However, sooner or later everything changes, and even the language that is famous today decided to transform itself. And to redesign it, a very young Filipino girl was called in, Paulina Almira, a painter, illustrator, graphic designer, digital and NFT artist who has also collaborated with Vault Art Space, a crypto art gallery created through a partnership between Gucci and SuperRare . platform . With a playful, pop, colorful, ironic style full of floral references and the natural world, but at the same time her original neo-surreal style, Paulina captivated the most famous rock band in the world, who contacted her for a makeover of the look. its a very popular language. The occasion, of course, is the release of the band’s new album (18 years after the release of the last one). Hackney Diamondswhich will be made public in full only on October 20.

Fresh and youthful breath, which we already saw in the video of the first released single, Wickedwhich starred the young actress, known for her role as Cassie Howard in EuphoriaSydney Sweeney.

The Rolling Stones brand, known as “Tongue and Lips” or “Hot Lips”, was developed back in 1971 by a young John Pache, an MFA student at the Royal College of Art in London. He was in his third year at the academy when Mick Jagger asked him to create a logo for the band’s 1970 European tour. Pache stated in an interview that “The spark that led to the creation of the logo came during a meeting with Mick at his home when he showed me an image of the Indian goddess Kali.”

So today, more than 50 years later, this logo is also changing and becoming younger in the pop style of a young digital artist. And Paulina created a new look with a huge visual impact: pieces of glass or “diamonds” are actually grouped together, almost reproducing a mosaic effect, to recreate the Stones’ language in that hyper-modern key of their logo. The bright red colors, glass effect of various sharp shards, and the three-dimensional look of the world’s most famous language have made their way into the album cover, vinyl cover, building walls, and monuments of various cities around the world. peace and merchandising groups. Even the band’s name has changed its appearance: in fact, the inscription consists of pieces of transparent glass shimmering against a dark background to emphasize its magnificence. In a word, the language, as if it had just come out of a jewelry store, fully corresponds to the title of the new album being released.

But Paulina Almira was asked not only to operate restyling logo of the group, but also to create an image for the cover of the new album. Also in this case, the artist created a breathtaking image formed by two blood-red female hands: one holds a glass heart (also crystal) broken in half with a dagger, which is held by the other hand. Everything is surrounded by glass flakes. On the cover of the single, a fist stands out, which seems to be the very quintessence of anger (remember the title Wicked), always bright red, which breaks the glass shelf into a thousand pieces.

In this exclusive interview, Artuu magazine asked Polina to talk about herself, her hobbies and how she came to create the cover of the new Stones album.

Polina, tell us a little about yourself. Have you had a passion for art since childhood?

Yes, I have been creative since a young age.

Were there any artists that inspired you or any memorable moments or images that made you say as a child that you wanted to be an artist?

There were no artists that inspired me, but I liked clothes, dolls like Barbie and Bratz, and watching The Powerpuff Girls on TV. I’ve always liked the pink Power Ranger, even though I’ve never watched the series. I loved when my mother and I watched fashion shows on TV. The toys and television programs I watched had a strong influence on my art as a child and even now as an adult. I have always been a very feminine girl. I only ever wore long dresses, skirts, frilly socks, and Mary Janes. Pink and gold were my favorite colors.

How did this love for art and digital art in particular come about?

I first got into the world of digital art at university and immediately fell in love with it.

Did your parents push you to become an artist?

No, they didn’t have to push me to become an artist. I always knew that I would choose a career in the creative field.

I know your first love was fashion. Would you like to become a stylist? What made you change direction?

Fashion was an area that I paid a lot of attention to, but it also required more time and effort than I was willing to give. The Covid period has forced me to deeply rethink my path. When the pandemic hit, the job offers I was getting disappeared. I realized the fashion industry was too uncertain and decided it wasn’t for me.

What kind of education did you have before becoming an artist?

I studied information design and then fashion design. When Covid hit in 2020, I had no money and no job, so I decided to create art and publish it online every day. Slowly I gained a following and people started approaching me for commissions.

What is your life like in the Philippines?

I currently live in the Philippines and my life here has always been comfortable and peaceful. Beaches and outdoor spaces have always been a starting point for my creativity.

Have you had any difficulties in the art world because you are a woman and Filipino?

Fortunately, I have not encountered any difficulties yet, but I feel that I am being professionally represented by a reputable and respected design agency. I think things would have been very different if I had acted independently. My biggest source of stress as a freelancer is not knowing when my next project will be released.

You also lived in the US for some time. Why did you decide to move there?

I moved to study fashion design in 2018 and returned to the Philippines in 2021. If I had never lived in America, my digital art career would probably have taken much longer to take flight. I was detained in America due to Covid and it was there that I started publishing my work online daily. And it was through this daily practice that I found my unique style.

You have a psychedelic and dreamlike style, with quotes from classical art, surrealism and modern influences such as Jeff Koons. Are there any artists you particularly look up to?

Triptych Garden of Delights Hieronymus Bosch has been an inspiration to me over the past few years. Something from Ruxenne Manikiz: When I first saw her work, I was mesmerized and became a fan from that moment on. Once again, the works of Guillermo Lorca Garcia, Hajime Sorayama, Peter Palombi and Moebius (Jean Giraud) helped inspire me to create my own style, even though I never knew any of these artists personally.

You’ve worked with digital as well as NFTs. How do you feel about NFTs and the development of increasingly “intangible” art?

I think NFTs are a good way for independent artists to distribute their work and maybe even sell it, without having to go the traditional route through a gallery.

I saw that you also created several clothing items. Are you still interested in fashion and would like to integrate it into your work as an artist?

It’s not necessarily a priority right now, but I can always think about it in the future.

Do you consider yourself a pop artist or a new pop artist?

I don’t like to put myself into any category or label myself. I feel limited. I would love to explore all types of art without worrying about fitting into a specific genre. Art and imagination are fickle. We strive for what interests us.

Your art focuses on the color pink, the female body, heels, makeup, painted nails and fashion: is this an art form that affirms female emancipation in an increasingly chauvinistic world? Do you have a special interest in feminist issues?

I paint these objects because they interest me in real life, and also because both they and the female body are aesthetic. Femininity should be valued. Feminism and equality are synonymous, so yes, I am very interested in equality in the world, especially when it comes to women’s rights and the LGBT community.

Can you tell us how you ended up on the cover of the new Stones album?

Fury Studio contacted my agency H+ Creative and asked me to create original artwork for their new album.

And how did you react when they told you that you were going to work for the Rolling Stones?

I was shocked! But I couldn’t get excited until I saw the single release. Wicked and a live Stones interview with Jimmy Fallon and my artwork in the background.

Have you had the opportunity to meet the band?

Unfortunately, no, I haven’t had the opportunity to meet the Rolling Stones yet. Let’s hope for the future!