Achraf Amiri

Illustrator, Achraf Amiri, aka ‘the hidden son of the Addams family’, is one of our artistic heroes and contributors to our Issue 00 with Toxic Couture. His beautifully macabre, satirical and often sexy ‘illustrashions’ (as he calls them) are more than simple drawings - they procure real emotions and are profoundly brilliant.

Brussels born Achraf, 32, casts a critical eye on the world around him ( including the world of fashion). His work encourages self-reflection, it provides us with an artistic “mirror’ and challenges us to ponder the emotions which his illustrations bring up in the viewer.

In 2010, after graduating as a Graphic Designer from Sint-Lukas, Brussels, he travelled to Naples seeking inspiration. A year or so later he moved to London where he made his debut as an independent Illustrator. He promptly made a name for himself and was commissioned by renowned luxury brands and collaborated with a series of international organisations, fashion houses and printed publications, such as; ELLE Belgique, British Vogue and Metal Magazine to name but a few.

In a time where there is overexposure on the Internet via social media and success is measured with numbers of followers, Achraf actively exposes his unapologetically and mischievous—but yet romantic—illustrations for the world to discover under his pseudo name @Bambiachy.

At what age did you discover your talent for drawing and how easy was it to develop your unique style of illustration?

It all began like for most children through developing a strong imagination, around age 3-4. My 11months older brother would be a big motivator. Together we would spend days drawing our favourite Manga characters and making paper-cut figures––we truly build an army! As I grew up older, I eventually ended up studying art, which was useful for teaching the academical drawing technics such as; proportions, perspectives, volumes etc. Once I’ve mastered the traditional ways of drawing, I've graduated as a Graphic Designer. This is when I've decided to break the rules and started drawing freely with only my emotions as guidance. Falling in love for the first time was also a big factor, but that's another story!

After moving to London, how difficult was it to promote your art and furthermore to become a household name in the industry?

The only great thing about our digital times is that you can connect with the entire planet! Over 10 years ago––when I was still an art student in Brussels––I would use online platforms such as; Flickr, MySpace and Facebook to publish my portfolio. This caught the attention of many and I would start being featured and interviewed (just like this instant) by numerous organisations who took interest in my work. Eventually, I would receive collaboration opportunities from all corners, including renowned brands.

Pop culture (including fashion and gay erotica) play a significant role in your work. What is the fascination?

The universe made me cynical. I guess that I’m a natural critic and enjoy making fun of the status quo through my vision. I want people to take humour seriously!

What else inspires you and how does it manifest through your work? Is your work a reflection of your emotions and life?

My ‘Illustrashions’––as I call them––are comments on the times we live in. Chaos and tragedy are what inspires me and makes me react. Drawing is before anything a therapy, hence my personal way of coping with moments of crisis. Today’s cultural, social and political environments are undeniably captivating. 

In 2014 you founded your own magazine ILLUSTRASHION Magazine (WWW.ILLUSTRASHION.COM) in which you “explore the other side of the industry”. What did you hope to achieve?

I’ve decided to launch my own magazine after being terminated at ELLE Magazine for been called misogynistic and rude. Perhaps, my illustrations are too extravagant for a basic audience. Therefore, I wanted to create my own platform where I could freely express myself without any kinds of censorship. 

You are nearing 10 years in this industry, and you’ve worked with countless clients, have you done it all? What is your next goal?

Only the future will tell us! Over the past years, I’ve accomplished an array of projects; from creating a campaign for NIKE, to designing a mannequin for Rootstein. I’ve also had the privilege to collaborate with phenomenal artists like; David LaChapelle, Manish Arora and Rose McGowan. Despite that, my goal is never to become mainstream but to truly enjoy making my craft for myself, as an underground artist.

Can we expect an Exhibition?

During the last decade, I’ve produced an extremely heavy body of work. Today, I’m currently curating a retrospective for a future exhibition. Whilst during these uncertain times, I’m also focusing on producing even more work, which I can hopefully showcase once we overcome this pandemic. After a magazine why not a book?!

For more info visit www.achrafamiri.com

You can follow Achraf Amiri on Instagram at @bambiachy