Erik Melikyan is an Armenian motion designer and visual artist. His work combines culture, symbolism and emotion to create poetic visual stories. Through his animations, he explores the connection between tradition and modern expression, bringing depth and sensitivity to every frame.

Erik’s journey began while exploring ways to bring imagination to life – from photography and graphic design to art direction. He eventually found animation to be the perfect medium within which he could create freely. Erik is inspired by his travels and he attempts to weave the vast diversity of cultures he has encountered into his work. His projects are often thought-provoking and sometimes provocative, allowing him to connect with audiences around the world. He is currently working on a religion series, in which he explores faith through different beliefs, capturing these fascinating ideas in visuals that are both beautiful and accessible.

Erik believes deeply in the value of handcrafted work: human creativity is imperfect, he says, but has soul.

Erik collaborates with us on The Kanjivaram Mandalas, bringing his sensitive style of design and animation to the considered reconstruction of a selection of Kanakavalli’s kanjivaram saris as graphic and animated mandalas. View the entire series here.