Facebook Open Arts: Check Out New Messenger 360 Background from Celebrated Artist Karan Singh

We are excited to spotlight Karan Singh, the second in a series of artists we are featuring in collaboration with Facebook Open Arts. Karan has created a custom 360 background for video calls and Messenger Rooms inspired by 1980s sci-fi and surrealist images, called Kosmos. 

Karan Singh is a self-taught Australian artist, and is focused on visual arts and illustration for the past 12 years. Karan was born in India, spent his early childhood in the Middle East, grew up in Australia, and has lived in many places across the world since. He identifies as a nomad and draws a parallel between the experience of traveling and trying out different mediums and techniques to evolve his work. 

Karan’s 360 background, Kosmos, is a playful, larger-than-life world that mixes a futuristic vibe with a nostalgic twist. The background combines the landscape of a surrealist desert with geometric shapes and realistic objects created in unique scale and color. Kosmos is Karan’s first experience creating a 360 background and in a 3D digital space. Kosmos shows his desire to explore and evolve as he creates an opportunity for Messenger users to follow their own sense of discovery. 

Facebook’s Open Arts is honored to spotlight artists whose passion and creativity inspire their communities and beyond. “Karan brings a distinct point of view and unique aesthetic to everyday objects and experiences,” explains Open Arts Curator Tamar Benzikry. “His work is a helpful reminder of the meaning we imbue in the objects and environments we live with, and the playfulness that’s possible in community.”

To access Karan’s background simply start a video call or create a Room from Messenger or Facebook, tap the effects icon on your self view then select “backgrounds” to access Karan’s background, Kosmos. Messenger Rooms lets you create a room to host joinable free video calls with up to 50 people with no time limit. Rooms can be created right from Messenger or Facebook.