Modhesh creator dies of pneumonia
MICLAT, WHO LIVED IN DUBAI SINCE 1982, RAN AN AD AGENCY THAT HE FOUNDED IN 1990
Veteran Filipino artist Romulo ‘Romy’ Miclat who created Modhesh, one of Dubai’s most wellloved icons, has died at 69 in the Philippines.
Miclat died on Tuesday following a bout of pneumonia, family and friends confirmed to Gulf News yesterday.
The multi-talented Filipino architect, illustrator, painter and cartoonist created the character after he was commissioned by a Dubai ad agency. He then ran his own agency in Dubai, Qanatar Advertising and Design, which he founded in 1990.
Miclat was known for his unansuming and self-effacing manner. He loved to play the guitar and was respected by his peers for his great artistic talent.
He worked as an illustrator on significant campaigns for regional and local brands.
‘Collective effort’
In a 2007 interview with XPRESS, a Dubai newsweekly and a sister publication of Gulf News, Miclat said Modhesh was the brainchild of a collective design effort, though he said the final input on the character was his.
Modhesh is Dubai’s popular figure symbolising the Dubai Summer Surprises. The character began as a jack-in-the-box mascot was launched in 1997.
In 2001, during a relaunch, Modhesh broke out of the box and became a standalone character, retaining the concertinastyle body of his original design – no, it’s not a caterpillar.
The bright yellow colour represents the summer sun, and the seven spikes of hair represent the different emirates, he explained.
Miclat lived in Dubai since 1982,was involved in various artistic projects here and in other countries. The Filipino artist once said he draws fulfillment from seeing how children are so enchanted with his humble creation.