OUGD601 - Practical - Omnipollo - Karl Grandin

Omnipollo - Karl Grandin 

Sweden’s Omnipollo, started by Henok Fentie and Karl Grandin back in 2011, produce standout IPAs.

Of course, having great beer is only one part of becoming a great brewery. To get the attention of consumers, Grandin (of Cheap Monday fame) designed some killer artwork for the bottles. I found an article which spoke with him about the process and what you can expect when you see an Omnipollo beer.

Is there a common theme to all the artwork on the bottles?

Each image is part of the Omnipollo world, a trippy universe that is growing and developing, one bottle at a time.

What’s it like coming up with a new bottle design?
Most of the images are generated from tiny drawings in my sketchbooks. Because the sketches are done intuitively and quickly, there are usually details missing, things I would have added or changed if I had researched the subject beforehand, or if I had done several versions, or spent more time working on it. These drawings tend to have a quality to them that I like—something dreamy and abstract, but also very clear, almost pictographic. I usually have a few projects going on at once and the work feeds off each other. For example, working on Omnipollo designs and making artwork for an upcoming gallery show is a good combination. The Omnipollo images often end up being part of my work for the exhibition and paintings for the show end up on labels.

What about the name of the beer, does that factor into the artwork?
I try to work freely, without really trying to describe or portray the beer itself. I like the art, the beer, the name, etc. to each mean something on their own but also to be in tune with each other. Hopefully the whole turns out greater than the sum of its parts.

He uses intuitive, quick and almost random sketches from his sketchbook. 
- likes to work freely , "without really trying to describe or portray the beer itself. I like the art, the beer, the name, etc. to each mean something on their own but also to be in tune with each other. Hopefully the whole turns out greater than the sum of its parts."
- thinks it doesn't necessarily need a direct approach, he's just using it as a platform for his work.
- thinks there is value in the almost unfinished and unresearched approach - leaves designs feeling "dreamy and abstract, but also very clear, almost pictographic."

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I was immediately intrigued by one of Omnipollo's beer 'Yellow Belly' - white bagged (looks like the KKK) approach to the beer
 - very different and striking as initially think it could be racist/offensive, but after looking into it is charismatically trying doing the opposite!

"Yellow Belly — a person who is without courage, fortitude, or nerve; a coward.

To us, one of the most cowardly deeds is to act anonymously, hiding behind a group.
A signifying trait of institutionalised racism. This beer is brewed to celebrate all things new, open minded and progressive.
A peanut butter biscuit stout with no biscuits, butter or nuts. Taste, enjoy, and don’t be prejudiced."