Vasjen Katro is a visual designer known for his innovative and eye-catchingwork, especially for his personal project called “Baugasm“. He started his career at the young age of 14, when he discovered a passion for electronic music. However, he quickly realized that design was his actual calling, and he began to focus on creating stunning visual pieces. Over the years, Vasjen has worked with clients from all over the world, from huge brands to small exhibitions. Vasjen continues to push the boundaries of visual design, and his work has been featured in numerous publications and exhibitions. Vasjen reached out to us, suggesting to take a look at his car-related works - and we were much delighted...

@vasjenkatro
@baugasm
 

Q: You made yourself a name for your Baugasm designs, could you tell us how it started?
A: It all started in 2016 when I wanted to challenge myself to create a project where I could share my designs on Instagram. At the time, I was sharing only photography on my personal account. I was also doing design work, but not sharing any of them on this platform.I looked back at this project I did in 2011, where I challenged myself to create a poster every day for 60 days and started that again in 2016 as a way for me to be challenged to create something new on a daily basis and have something to share design wise on my new instagram account. I called it Baugasm and I challenged myself to create something everyday for a year, but continued to do it for a couple of years. That is how it all started. It was just a “stupid” side project that I wanted to experiment with and have fun, but also to get away from some of the client work and agency work I was doing at the time.
 

Q: It seems you also have a love for 70’s-80’s car design which rather have an analog feeling in stark contrast to your very contemporary Baugasm designs?
A: It’s true, but it still has a futuristic vibe. If you see my work, it is very dystopian and cyber punk in a way, but it also has that cinematographic and melancholic feel. In 2019 I got this old Mercedes which you will see in most of my artworks. It is the W123 model of 1982 Mercedes. A lot of people had that car when I grew up in Albania, but then for some reason when I turned 30, it was a present I made to myself and I said: “I’m going to get this car and I will create content on my personal account.” Before Instagram I was sharing mostly photography and cinematography. I always found those cars very cinematic. They had something into it. The feel, the colors, the design of the car, but at the same time, it has something futuristic and nostalgic looking in a way. I knew I could create a lot of content with it, but then covid came and I couldn’t finish with the car and do any photoshoot. What happened was that with all the skills that I accumulated through the Baugasm project, I was doing a lot of 3D and moved that into actually doing my actual car that I own into 3D and creating this imagery around that car. 
 

Q: Do you have a clear seperation in you mind and what attracts you to this era of automotive design?
A: There is something fascinating for me with the old cars, or cars that have resisted time and history. There is something that looks more different and unique especially in a time where beautiful cars are being designed. The old ones are always going to give a nostalgic look and if combined aesthetically with something futuristic or unnatural it makes them more fascinating. 
For me that is the part where my car work attaches with the Baugasm work. Baugasm work is mixed with very futuristic design and animations. I think that is exactly the path where they cross together even though sometimes with Baugasm I have done things with cars as well. I love the mix of old cars and engineering and the way how those were designed as well because it has a lot of engineering in it which is fascinating to see and transform that to something very cinematic.
 

Q: Going beyond TIME, what would be your most desired form of transportion in far future that would include yourself?
A: To be honest I don’t know as this is very difficult. I would prefer something that doesn’t need fuel in it or put it on charge. I would like something that just keeps going and then to have a lot of possibilities. To have modes that you can change in these forms of transportation. I like both motorcycles and cars, but I would like to have an old looking classic, but at the same time aggressive and futuristic. Something like Delorean or the new Hyundai, as I think they are doing a really nice old vintage but futuristic looking. I can imagine something running wth no fuel, something that just runs. :) It is a difficult question, I honestly don’t know how to envision something that will come up in the future, but there will probably be other ways of transportation. This could be a way for me to have fun and have a great weekend because towards maybe transportation - the whole thing should change the way how we use it right now. I would love to have a vehicle that I can use for fun or ways to navigate around but probably not to commute.
 

Q: Is there any utopian form of transportation you would admire? Think of blueprints such as “Minority report“, “Bladerunner“ or even “Star wars“

A: I would love to have the blade runner flying car. That would be interesting to see how that would play in the future and I like the aesthetic way it’s been designed. Also some stuff from Batman, as they always get these futuristic cars that look badass and it is a mix of a sports car and off roaders. I would like to have a car in between those and also something that can go around in different terrains. The blade runner vehicle is also flying and that is very interesting to see, but I would like to see those  things really happening in the future and how the world is going to be...