<p>Kobi Kalimian has numerous awe-inspiring balloon designs in his record and also holds the prestigious CBA (Certified Balloon Artist) Qualatex certification.<br /><br />In India for the first time, the balloon artist created and displayed a huge pirate ship built from brown, gold and red balloons at the Phoenix MarketCity Atrium.<br /><br />Kobi, whose work is grabbing eyeballs, talks to Anushree Agarwal about his unique art, his inspiration to create something new and more. <br /><br />How did you get into balloon art?<br />I was introduced to the art while walking in Jerusalem. I saw an artist who gives away simple single balloon models such as a dog or a sword. The same evening, I researched and learned everything I could find about the subject online. Fairly quickly, I learned all the basics for making balloon sculptures myself.<br /><br />We hear that you have won the first place in a world competition. Tell us about it.<br />I was invited to participate in an exclusive balloon competition that featured a new balloon product. I built a huge balloon model on the ceiling depicting a sky filled with clouds and butterflies. This design won me the first place.<br /><br />A few of your memorable designs...<br />I built a 27 metre high dove symbolising world peace in collaboration with a Dutch balloon artist and several Israeli balloon designers. It was built from 30,000 balloons in three days. <br /><br />The pirate ship at Phoenix MarketCity is made out of 10,000 balloons. It is 13 metres long and carries a pirate and treasure chest. It took two of us to build it and two days of nearly non-stop work. I also built a giant dragon at High Street Phoenix mall in Mumbai.<br /><br />How do you come up with the designs?<br />My inspiration comes from real life and even drawings and paintings. Sometimes my inspiration comes from the work of other balloon designers. <br /><br />What motivates you towards your work everyday?<br />I get inspiration or motivation from different aspects of life. Sometimes, it’s about the little compliments telling me how amazing my work is. All these small but important things keep me motivated.<br /><br />What are your other hobbies?<br />My only hobby is balloon decoration. I must enjoy it as a hobby in order to make an art out of it.<br /><br />If not a balloon artist...<br />Before I became a balloon artist, I was a salesman in a cellular company. I believe that if I did not decide to start my own balloon business, I would have still remained in sales.<br /><br />How did you find Bengaluru?<br />The city is great and the people I met were quite helpful. The weather is also wonderful here and so is the food.</p>
<p>Kobi Kalimian has numerous awe-inspiring balloon designs in his record and also holds the prestigious CBA (Certified Balloon Artist) Qualatex certification.<br /><br />In India for the first time, the balloon artist created and displayed a huge pirate ship built from brown, gold and red balloons at the Phoenix MarketCity Atrium.<br /><br />Kobi, whose work is grabbing eyeballs, talks to Anushree Agarwal about his unique art, his inspiration to create something new and more. <br /><br />How did you get into balloon art?<br />I was introduced to the art while walking in Jerusalem. I saw an artist who gives away simple single balloon models such as a dog or a sword. The same evening, I researched and learned everything I could find about the subject online. Fairly quickly, I learned all the basics for making balloon sculptures myself.<br /><br />We hear that you have won the first place in a world competition. Tell us about it.<br />I was invited to participate in an exclusive balloon competition that featured a new balloon product. I built a huge balloon model on the ceiling depicting a sky filled with clouds and butterflies. This design won me the first place.<br /><br />A few of your memorable designs...<br />I built a 27 metre high dove symbolising world peace in collaboration with a Dutch balloon artist and several Israeli balloon designers. It was built from 30,000 balloons in three days. <br /><br />The pirate ship at Phoenix MarketCity is made out of 10,000 balloons. It is 13 metres long and carries a pirate and treasure chest. It took two of us to build it and two days of nearly non-stop work. I also built a giant dragon at High Street Phoenix mall in Mumbai.<br /><br />How do you come up with the designs?<br />My inspiration comes from real life and even drawings and paintings. Sometimes my inspiration comes from the work of other balloon designers. <br /><br />What motivates you towards your work everyday?<br />I get inspiration or motivation from different aspects of life. Sometimes, it’s about the little compliments telling me how amazing my work is. All these small but important things keep me motivated.<br /><br />What are your other hobbies?<br />My only hobby is balloon decoration. I must enjoy it as a hobby in order to make an art out of it.<br /><br />If not a balloon artist...<br />Before I became a balloon artist, I was a salesman in a cellular company. I believe that if I did not decide to start my own balloon business, I would have still remained in sales.<br /><br />How did you find Bengaluru?<br />The city is great and the people I met were quite helpful. The weather is also wonderful here and so is the food.</p>
