Lotus depicted ‘blooming Guyana’ at GuyExpo

The Lotus flower at the centre of the design for GuyExpo 2014, depicted a “blooming Guyana,” Chief Executive Officer of Impressions Neal Sukhlal said, in keeping with the ‘transformation’ theme surrounding the annual trade fair and exhibition.

Impressions came up with the creative concept and illustrated it through a centrepiece and a series of golden arches signifying the transformation of Guyana from the 1980s to present day. The arches, made of steel and vinyl, took approximately three weeks to design and build.

Sukhlal said the company tries to use recycled material as much as possible in its designs and in this case most of the metal and vinyl used

Impressions’ depiction of the Lotus flower at GuyExpo
Impressions’ depiction of the Lotus flower at GuyExpo
The entrance to GuyExpo designed by Impressions
The entrance to GuyExpo designed by Impressions

to create the designs were recycled. He said too that the materials used were imported except for those that can be found in Guyana such as the plywood.

Stating that he saw GuyExpo as the country’s premier trade exposition with great potential for economic development, Sukhlal said his company has realised growth and expansion after participating in GuyExpo over the years. Impressions has been in existence for the past 15 years and GuyExpo began 19 years ago in 1995. He said the event has advanced to a whole new level that is offering his company new opportunities.

As a result, Sukhlal said, Impressions now uses GuyExpo as a way to showcase its creativity and not to make a profit.

Referring to the Sophia Exhibition Complex where the expo was held, Sukhlal noted that Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean that owns an exhibition facility.

GuyExpo 2014 was held under the theme “Transformation: Partnership for a Better Guyana,” and had more than 400 booths and the highest participation of overseas businesses, with a total of 56 booths and in excess of 118 delegates.

The steel and vinyl arches
The steel and vinyl arches

Meanwhile, Sukhlal told Stabroek News that he was very honoured to be a part of Guyana’s major campaigns, including the annually held GuyExpo and others such as the Building Expo, the Guyana Festival and the Caribbean Premier League cricket.

He pointed out that his company’s main focus now is to brand in a creative way and to international standards.

Impressions has five graphic artists/designers, including Sukhlal, who come up with all the ideas of the creative work showcased.

Initially known for embroidery and screen printing, Impressions does indoor signage, outdoor signage, expo booth facilities, promotional novelties, event branding, display fixtures, flag/fabric printing, engraving and digital advertising. It owns a line of state-of-the-art equipment to get the job done, such as its fabric-printing machine which is reportedly the only one of its kind in the Caribbean, Sukhlal said.