Giant fridge magnets tower over Dubai's skyline in new digital video project

Rohith Jagadisha's latest 3D series is inspired by his visit to Expo 2020 Dubai with his family

The 'Meta Souvenir' project reimagines the Dubai skyline through a series of 3D souvenirs. All photos: Raorohith

Letters around the city spell out Dubai. 'D' is a natural fit for Burj Al Arab, famed for its sail-shaped structure.

'U' looms over the desert, and a stylised scene of a camel at an oasis.

'B' stands for Burj Khalifa, towering high over the Dubai skyline.

'A' stands behind a 3D render of Emirates Towers.

'I' sits behind a depiction of Dubai's twisty Cayman tower, with Atlantis, The Palm, sat before it.

Jagadisha's Dubai skyline video projects were first inspired by the time he spent admiring the city's landmarks with his daughter.

The video's creator, Rohith Jagadisha, says: '[When] most people go to a landmark, they take home a little souvenir to remind them of their trip. In this project I want people to experience meta souvenirs.'

Dubai's skyline has enjoyed yet another creative overhaul, through a new video project titled Meta Souvenir. It features digital art "souvenirs" over some of the emirate's most recognisable landmarks, infusing them with added colour and intrigue.

The video was produced by Rohith Jagadisha, whose previous project depicting Dubai's skyline being overun by giant origami figures rapidly went viral.

Though he now lives in India, Jagadisha worked in Dubai for 13 years. The two skyline projects were inspired by the time he spent with his daughter Vipanchi, 7, exploring the city's landmarks, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

While his previous video was dedicated to his daughter, Jagadisha has devoted this one to the people of Dubai, saying that it offers a fresh take on souvenirs. "[When] most people go to a landmark, they take home a little souvenir to remind them of their trip. In this project I want people to experience meta souvenirs. Moments become memories. Cherish your memories — you can visit them and can live in them."

Jagadisha says his latest video was particularly inspired by visits to Expo 2020 Dubai. "At that time, we bought a few souvenirs for our daughter — key rings, fridge magnets, passport stamps and so on. In the crowd, she lost one of her souvenirs and she was very depressed. She asked the little robot to find it for her." Jagadisha decided he would bring those souvenirs back through the magic of 3D animation.

The video cycles through a series of landmarks, attached to letters that spell out "DUBAI". It starts with a cartoon-like Burj Al Arab projected over the Dubai shoreline, with the letter D behind it. Moving on, a U towers over the desert, with a stylised camel and oasis scene. B sits behind a glistening Burj Khalifa, while A stands behind Emirates Towers and I straddles Cayan Tower, the city's beloved "twisty" building, alongside Atlantis, The Palm.

Artist Rohith Jagadisha created his original skyline video, 'World's Biggest Origami in Dubai', as a way of bringing his seven-year-old daughter's creative vision to life. Photo: Raorohith

The video culminates in scenes reorganising the landmarks with several variations, spelling out "I love Dubai".

In a previous interview with The National, the 3D artist said he was shocked by the response to his last video. “I never expected this at all. People really love it. But actually, this was something I did just for my daughter.

“My daughter and I used to go to Pearl Beach every day, sit there and be mesmerised by the Dubai skyline, just enjoying the view. I’d completely created Dubai in 3D in the past, and used to always take her with me to all these places, so she knew them very well. She was amazed."

Scroll through images of Rohith Jagadisha's previous Dubai skyline project below

Indian artist, Rohith Jagadisha, created the video, 'World's Biggest Origami in Dubai', as a way of bringing his 7-year-old daughter's vision to life. All photos: Raorohith

The video features several large CGI origami creations scattered across some of Dubai's most recognisable locations.

Jagadisha says his daughter Vipanchi first came up with the idea years ago, as they were admiring the Dubai skyline together.

The artist was overwhelmed by the public's response: 'I never expected this at all. People really love it. But actually, this was something I did just for my daughter'.

After 13 years in Dubai, Jagadisha and his family had become deeply familiar with Dubai's cityscape.

The idea began when Jagadisha's daughter asked, 'Dubai has so many huge buildings, what if I created a huge origami here?’.

Dubai Frame opens up to views of enormous origami cranes.

An origami horse stands alongside Dubai's spectacular Burj Khalifa.

Jagadisha is a 3D generalist, specialising in all areas of 3D animation and technology.

Dinosaurs stand peacefully over the city, soaking in the sights.

To produce the video, Jagadisha created 3D origami figures and imposed them over footage of different locations across Dubai – Atlantis, The Palm; Dubai Frame; Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina, Museum of the Future, Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, Burj Khalifa and more.

Vipanchi, 7, is incredibly creative, constantly creating origami artwork, and even painting the walls of their house.

Jagadisha shows his daughter, Vipanchi, the video he created for her.

'I’m definitely going to do more creative things like this. I’ll come up with some new ideas.'