The Red Bull Doodle Art India Finale was held at NIFT Kolkata in the presence of Judges Santanu Hazarika and Rob. The Kolkata Mail correspondent Priyanka Dutta caught up with Rob in an exclusive chat on doodle art and its future in India. Excerpts..

What do you think about doodle art, its scope, and future prospects in India?

Rob: The talent and skills I saw today were definitely beyond my expectations. I think it will only grow from here and evolve into something even more exceptional. Kudos to Red Bull and the entire team for giving the youth an opportunity to express themselves on a platform such as Red Bull Doodle Art which will definitely help these creative minds a lot.

What factors will you see when you pick the winner?

Rob: The three criteria are skill, concept, and theme. Sometimes, people come up with an amazing concept but lack the necessary skills to present it effectively. Similarly, in some cases, people possess amazing skills, but they lack direction or a good concept, or they have an interesting concept, but it doesn’t fit well with the theme. The way I graded the contestants was basis a good balance between the three, where the skills and concepts were equally good, and they were closer to the theme of the event.

What are your expectations from this event?

Rob: This was my first time being a part of Red Bull Doodle Art. When I came in, I did not expect the talent and creativity[of the participants] to be at this level. However, when I saw the entries, they were very detailed and intricate. The concepts were so unique and interesting that I was quite pleasantly blown away and also surprised by the quality of work produced by each participant.

Have you tried your hand at creating doodle art?

Rob: Yes, in fact, I doodle a lot. I feel it’s the best way to express yourself and put down your thoughts. Most of the documentation of my ideas happens through doodles since I’m very visual. Whenever I write down an idea, I always have some doodles next to it because I tend to see things visually, so I know how I want to present it. Being an animator myself, I can say that when most animators think of ideas or stories, they often start with these tiny doodles. Storyboards, animations, and characters often originate from doodles.

Since the winners will get a chance to participate in the World Final, how big will the scope be for that winner?

Rob: It will definitely open many doors for the winner. Being part of an international event, global recognition is one thing. Seeing other artists from all over the world will also be a great experience and give huge exposure to the artists. Even for Santanu [Hazarika], winning Red Bull Doodle Art was a turning point in his life and he has taken it to another level. A lot more doors will open for artists and any kind of appreciation or recognition definitely helps you a lot. It will also motivate the participants to do better, which eventually smoothens the path. This is a big opportunity and Red Bull has actually given participants wings to fly and shine.