*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
Herman Melville once said ‘They talk of the dignity of work. Bosh. The dignity is in leisure.’
Built over an old outhouse, the Garden Lounge, created by M/s Prabhakar Bhagwat with interiors by SRDA, is a private space of leisure, a retreat, built to step away from everyday living. A short walk from the main home, it is a hideout within the large grounds, flanked by trees, a sunken garden and a cool blue pool. This post walks through the structure, landscape and interiors of the lounge – all of which are strongly voiced and distinct – and explores to see if they work to bind or alienate the sense of leisure.
Filed under: Indian Architecture, Indian Interiors | 4 Comments
Tags: Ahemdabad, Akalpya, Aniket Bhagwat, Architecture, Furniture, Interiors, Landscape, Lounge, Prabhakar Bhagwat, Samira Rathod, Smruti Bhagwat, SRDA
Seraikella Chhau
Chhau is a dance-drama form prevalent in Eastern India. There are three major forms of Chhau, each known by its geographic location. These are Purulia Chhau of West Bengal, Mayurbhanj Chhau of Orissa and Seraikella Chhau of Bihar (now Jharkhand). Although they are all known as Chhau, their styles differ considerably in terms of their cultural background and their dance characteristics. The festival will feature some of the most outstanding exponents representing each of the three traditions.
Keli Festival, scheduled on the 28th, 29th and 30th January 2010 at YB Chavan and Prithvi Theatre, will feature the different traditions of Chhau Dance.
Seraikella Chhau
Free Passes at Rhythm House & Giri stores, Matunga, three days prior to the festival. Mail Mr. Ramachandran, ramk.keli(at)gmail(dot)com, for further details.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 4 Comments
Tags: Chhau Dance, Eastern India, Keli Festival
“Artistically, terracotta is the medium where many ideas were first experimented upon before they were committed to stone. At the same time, Many of these artefacts were used in ephemeral rituals and then discarded; their study thus permits an insight into those aspects of religious worship little studied in a field where the emphasis has been on monuments of more durable material. Inexpensive and easily replaced, terracottas are by their very nature a source for a unique telling of a more quotidian history, reflective of religious cults worshipped in peoples’ homes rather than the grand stone temples.
This course looks at issues of mass-production in Ancient societies, the dissemination of religious iconographic models and objects that reveal that art in Ancient India was not merely sacred. This course delves into one of the fundamental elements of Indian visual culture.”
Conducted by Naman.P.Ahuja, Associate Professor of Ancient Indian Art & Architecture at JNU.
Course Dates and Timings – 17th, 18th & 19th February, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Registration opens 25th january, public fee: Rs 1000, MU student fee: Rs 250, Limited seating.
Jnanapravha organises courses and talks on a regular basis. Read more about them on their site. More information on Terracota research is available here. Image courtesy Jnanapravha.
Filed under: Indian Architecture, Indian Art | Leave a Comment
Tags: Jnanapravaha, JNU, Naman P Ahuja, Terracota Research
Shout Out! > Design Kashmir
Filed under: Indian Craft, Indian Stores | Leave a Comment
Tags: Bombay, Design Kashmir, Priya Kishore
Via Priya and Bijoy Jain
Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Tags: Bijoy Jain, Edge of Faith, Prabuddha Dasgupta, Priya Jain, Tasveer
Aakash Nihalani is a Brooklyn based artist who works with the medium of tape in public places around New York.
Continue reading ‘Caught my eye > Aakash Nihalani’s Tape Art’
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Tags: Aakash Nihalani, Tape Art
Bikram Mittra’s Weave Stool is constructed out of a single laminated member that is repeated to create a ‘weave’ effect.
Filed under: Indian Product Design | 4 Comments
Tags: Bikram Mittra, Weave Stool
By Lotus Design. I saw this a long time ago on Ambrish’s laptop and have looked forward to featuring it since. The simple use of paper and colours brings back memories of the paper windmill sellers and makes the mela so festive.
Filed under: Indian Craft | 5 Comments
Tags: Festive, Indian Mela, Lotus Design, Patiala Craft Mela
My Speak > Good Design
What is good design? This gmail inbox I’m writing in is. The keyboard I’m typing on isn’t. My body is. A waterfall is. An Indian mud pot with a tap attached to it is. None pretend to be what they are not. And work wholeheartedly towards being purposeful with intent to be of use.
Must all good design be of use? I would say yes. Or it isn’t design. It is art. Created to please, to extract emotions perhaps, and to make a point. A luxury. A pursuit for creative minds. Beautiful. Arresting. But not design in itself.
Canvas is good design. Is non porous, resistant to wear and tear and is strong and easily molded into anything. The art on it may or not be depending on what purpose it seeks to serve, what its intent is – the toothbrush vs. the Mona Lisa. I think the toothbrush is better design. But I think a stick of Neem is even better. It isn’t wasteful. Does the same job and more and is sensitive to its surroundings. Comb vs. hands. Hands are better. Multi-tasking and a sustainable resource.
If the world were to maximise what is already given by nature, our bodies included, than we would require very few new things to be designed all over again. Often when we design, we mimic, and dress it up, like fireworks on a starry night, only it’s a show, and has no real substance, and often no improvement over the master design.
The master design. Good design is a quest for the master design. The unshakeable mould. The way to get somewhere in the most efficient effective, sensitive, insightful way possible.
Good design is like a good proverb. It survives generations and is important because it is useful. No one praises proverbs for the reasons they do poetry. Proverbs are storehouses of information and experience; whether they please or do not please, they rarely fail to be effective. So too of good design.
If it’s all so simple, then why is so difficult to comprehend. Why do we confuse decoration for design? Perhaps because we are not geared to understand simple. Because we understand complex things like art far more easily than we do design. We look and say, ah pretty, it moved me, it made me cry. But ignore the most perfect designs like step wells and the thumb. Art is open to view points, and therefore more democratic, such that it allows everyone an interpretation. A tree has no interpretation. It just is. It exists in variations of the same design. In various types and forms. Roots. trunk. Leaves. fruits. Seeds. You cannot say you hate good design. Because its nature of being purposeful makes it immune to judgement. You could hate good art though. Like a salt and peppershaker. All have holes. Though the shapes and forms change. The perfect design was the holes. Everything else is dressing.
The best way to judge/measure/evaluate design is to put it to use, see what like it has been done before, and what new has been explored in this version, for it will or is usually a version, see how sensitive it is to the environment it is created for.
Design is negative space – for it is not an end in itself. It exists to fulfill a need. The moment you recognise the negative space, you start to see the real outlines of design. And then your eyes will never be muddled with mere decoration again.
Filed under: Design Criticism | 10 Comments
Tags: Design Vs Art, Good Design, My Speak
Caught my eye > Kaali and Klove
Kaali Watch by Cimmaron Singh
Moroccan Vase Chandelier by Klove
> Part of a Religare Arts Initiative exhibition held in Jan 2009.
Filed under: Indian Art, Indian Product Design | 9 Comments
Shout Out! > Mithila Artists
The last known authentic Mithila artists, Satya Narayan Lal Karn and Moti Karn are exhibiting at Jamaat Art Gallery till October 7th. Do catch the show.
Thank you Dev.
Filed under: Indian Art | 1 Comment
Tags: Indian Art, Jamaat Art Gallery, Mithila Artists, Moti Karn, Satya Narayan Lal Karn
New Release > Do!
Tara Books has a new release. DO! It’s a wonderful way to integrate Indian art with education without making it too complicated. Here are some pages from the book.
Do Book Cover
Filed under: Indian Art, Indian Stores | 7 Comments
Tags: Do!, India Tribal Art, Kusum Dhadpe, Ramesh Hengadi, Rasika Hengadi, Shantaram Dhadpe, Tara Books, Verbs, Warli Art
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
M/s Prabhakar B. Bhagwat founded LEAF (Landscape Environment Advancement Foundation) to engage in research and publication in the area of landscape design and environmental planning. It supports research programs of varying durations every year. The first of which is “Seeing the City” by Parin Shah, a student of Landscape Architecture.
Parin’s study on ‘Seeing the City’ is a subject close to my heart, that I believe requires plenty of discussion and action. There are increasingly no spaces one can spend time in that do not require one to spend money in. India’s idea of development is distorted – with no celebration or extension of the way our society grew, instead a blind embrace of the western – measured by shopping malls and hypermarts housing international brands and sales rather than the creation or continuence of chowk and maidaan like nourishing public spaces.
“Where do Amdavadis go out?” Parin attempted to answer this question. While doing so, she used the medium of water colours to capture the spirit of the city rather than just rely on a passive photograph. She observed locations, walked through streets studying the way people behaved and selected eight places. She then painted them in a manner where she laid more emphasis on some arrangements or aspects that she believed influenced the perception of the place. Presenting “Seeing the City”
Filed under: Indian Architecture | 8 Comments
Tags: LEAF, M/s Prabhkar B Bhagwat, Parin Shah, Seeing the City
Design Feature > Batootas
Found Roshnee Desai on Deviant. It led me to her blog and her Batoota cushions. They were quirky and an observation of the behaviour around us.
Roshnee says: “The Batootas are creatures which infest your daily mundane objects by redefining them and while doing so, passing a social comment, using puns.”
COO SHUN
Roshnee says: “They’re at Chowpatty. They’re on bikes. They’re hiding under behind trees. They’re where you least expect them. They sit at Bandstand. They stand at Banstand.Thats one thing they have in common. The incessant cat-mouse chase of the coo-ers and the shoo-ers. PDA. Police Dandaa Abruption. Coo Shun. Shun the coo. You can run you can hide but you cant escape my love.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 14 Comments
Tags: BATOOTA, COO SHUN, ROSHNEE DESAI
Sanjay Patel is an animator and storyboard artist at Pixar. Came across his website and work GheeHappy on Pardon My Hindi. Tiny happy illustrations of Indian Gods, very child- friendly.
> More of Sanjay Patel’s work on his site.
Filed under: Indian Graphic Design | 4 Comments
Tags: Ganesha, GheeHappy, Krishna, Shiva, The Little Book of Hindu Dieties
I support > The Uniform Project
* An Indian By Design Exclusive*
1 dress. 365 days. I found The Uniform Project via the wonderful Sub Studio blog. What began as a sustainable fashion project turned into an ingenious fund raising campaign – the billboard being the creator herself. Sheena Matheiken uses her quirky sense of style to wear the same tunic again and again, and will do so for a year. Proceeds of the Uniform Project will go to fund school uniforms and educational necessities for children living in slums in India. The exercise is fun and challenging as well. Each ensemble has a name, visitors can rate its fashion quotient, and there’s also the curiosity of what more could she possibly think of! We all want to do good, and often that stays in our mind, because it seems like to do good, we need to quit our jobs and wear cotton kurtas and live in a village. But Sheena and her uniform designer Eliza have shown that we could do a lot, right where we are, just by using our ingenuity. I support, wholeheartedly.
Sheena says: “Starting May 2009, I have pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. Here’s how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day, I will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade’s boudoir.”
Filed under: Indian Advertising, Indian Fashion | 6 Comments
Tags: Akanksha Foundation, Eliza Starbuck, Indian Fashion, Sheena Matheikan, Slum Children, Sustainable Fashion, The Uniform Project
Design Feature > Doshi Levien
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
This post is months overdue. Here’s to the very patient Nipa & Jonathan who I am sure had an amazing showing at Milan, and to all the wonderful people who follow Indian By Design.
Purvi Sanghvi, jewelry designer and an ardent fan of Doshi Levien, introduced me to Nipa and Jonathan’s works. The London based design office led by the husband and wife team was set up in 2000 and has since amassed quite a reputation, most recently being awarded Best Domestic Design by Wallpaper magazine for their work – My Beautiful Backside. Their work is distinct, quirky, fun and very usable. The Doshi-Levien portfolio has plenty of Indian cultural bias coupled with a unemotional industrial bent. Something that makes their work truly progressive and modern for me. Their work includes installation design for the Wellcome Trust, interaction design for Intel, insight and design direction for Nokia, product design for Tefal, furniture design for Moroso and bespoke shoes for London based “aristo” bootmakers, John Lobb. In conversation with Nipa Doshi.
> MOROSO CHARPOY
Nipa says: “A range of four daybeds called ‘Charpoy’ marry the skilled workmanship of Indian seamsters with Italian expertise in industrial production. Charpoy’ meaning 4 legs, is derived from the ubiquitous Indian daybed that recurs in several ‘Avatars’ or manifestations throughout the country; as a stringed bed to sleep on or a daybed for ladies to lounge on and conduct their daily affairs.
Filed under: Indian Craft, Indian Graphic Design, Indian Interiors, Indian Product Design | 20 Comments
Tags: Doshi Levien, John Lobb, Jonathan Levian, Moroso, Moroso Charpoy, Mosaic, My Beautiful Backside, Nipa Doshi, Pricipessa, Tefal, Wellcome Trust
Dakshayini Gowda is a remarkable woman. And what I have here is just a thread from the ingenuous fabric she’s weaving for society. Her efforts come together in ‘Sanchali’ which she set up to work towards two ends; to create avenues for financial dependence for rural women, and to demystify history for children by creating musuems they could touch, interact with, even help set up, in their own schools. One of the works that came out of her organisation Sanchali’s work with women in Karnataka was ‘Varanasi’ – a collection of jewelry recycled from scrap Banarasi material. The result is so beautiful and elegant that it makes me want to own an entire jewelry box of them.
Filed under: Indian Craft, Indian Fashion, Indian Product Design | 41 Comments
Tags: Banarasi, Dakshayini Gowda, Earrings, Sanchali, Varanasi, Waste fabric
Window Shopping > Ashima – Leena
The Ashima – Leena store is subtle, so much so that you might not notice anything but the clothes. But there are simple details that charmed me. The embedded designs that melt the cement floor as they vein out from the logo, the suspended silent busts that the clothes float on, the gold that adds richness to all the raw texture around.
Filed under: Indian Fashion, Indian Stores | 11 Comments
Tags: Ambrish Arora, Ankur Choksi, Arun Kullu, Ashima and Leena, Itu Chaudhuri Design, Lotus Design, Sidhartha Talwar
Photographer Bharat Sikka’s Indian Men is a fascinating study of urban men from the sub-continent. I could imagine someone I’ve met, known or seen in each one of these photographs. Presenting his stirring series.
Continue reading ‘Photo Feature > Bharat Sikka’s Indian Men’
Filed under: Indian Photography | 12 Comments
Tags: Bharat Sikka, Indian Men, Indian Photography
Fashion Feature > Moyna Bags
Stumbled upon Moyna Singh’s work in Rivaaj Magazine. Liked her bags, especially the tomato red sequins, the emerald sequins and the blue and white and pink beaded one. Clicked through to her site and found it teeming with pages from Elle, Cosmo and Vogue where her bags have been featured. Here are some of my favourites from her collection.
Filed under: Indian Art, Indian Craft, Indian Fashion, Indian Product Design | 11 Comments
Tags: Accessories, Moyna Bags, Moyna Singh
Design Feature > Jugaad
Bhavik wrote to me asking ‘how come indian designs are not reflected in our highways and the environment? Am I missing something here?’ Felt that it was time to share the idea of Jugaad or Indian improvisation that is so ubiquitous. Bijoy Jain brought it up in his interview, saying that it’s something that fascinates him; his studio has taken several pictures of it as part of an ongoing research on Indian ingenuinity. We’ll never know who designed these, or what the reason for doing it this way was, just that it exists, and if we stop to stare, we’ll realise, it’s a great piece of design. And it’s been right under our noses all this time.
Rock Marks
Filed under: Indian Architecture, Indian Craft, Indian Product Design | 7 Comments
Tags: Bijoy Jain, Indian Ingenuity, Jugaad, Studio Mumbai
Design Feature > Design Temple
The Design Temple line of products are cleaned-lined and modern in design, but draw their inspiration from Indian myth, history and local nuances. There is a quirky, humurous take in each that doesn’t affect the functionality of the object. Here are some that caught my eye.
Cheerharan toilet paper
Cheerharan Toilet Paper: This hand-grabbing toilet paper is inspired by the evil king Duryodhana who ordered “Cheerharan” or stripping of the saree, in a famous Indian epic from the 4th century B.C. That saree never came to an end, this toilet paper unfortunately will. Set of 2 rolls.
Filed under: Indian Graphic Design, Indian Product Design | 17 Comments
Tags: Design Temple, Divya Thakur
Memories of childhood are often about simple things; streets and lanes you grew up in, friends you spent time with and the games you played. Diptanshu Roy belongs to a joint family, grew up with 15 odd cousins living in the same house. As kids, they spent hours together, playing with simple toys, and that made them happy. Today, he says, it’s hard to come across kids playing with these toys. In these pictures, he captures the nostalgia of some simple and playful Indian games from his childhood.
Marbles
Filed under: Indian Craft, Indian Product Design | 9 Comments
Tags: Diptanshu Roy, Indian Games, Indian Photography
Design Feature > Jenny Pinto
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
Jenny’s work stems from the heart and her lamps seem to be lovingly nudged and caressed into form, the light brushing through and around it like wind. Featuring her work and thoughts.
“Spider” Banana fibre paper, hand cut granite, twigs, 15”
Filed under: Indian Craft, Indian Interiors, Indian Product Design | 9 Comments
Tags: Bangalore, Handmade Paper, Jenny Pinto, Julie Kagti, lamps
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
Presenting the first pictures of the new Rohit Bal Store, at Emporio in New Delhi. The store evokes a sense of grungy grandeur, and the gold and mirror and jaali work seem refined and edgy simultaneously. I enjoyed the way the store is filled with distractions, but the garments are still the focus of attention.
Click here to see more pictures. Continue reading ‘First Look! > The Rohit Bal Store, Emporio, New Delhi’
Filed under: Indian Interiors, Indian Stores | 17 Comments
Tags: Ambrish Arora, Ankur Choksi, Arun Kullu, Emporio, Lotus Design, Rohit Bal Store
Just Spotted! SpasticsPlastic
Creative director and partner of an advertising and design agency Sunny Side Up, Somak kneads clay when he’s not doing ads. Here are a few from his collection SpasticsPlastic. I loved the way he gives each a disctinct character, in name and form; makes me wonder which came first.
Moochwala
Filed under: Indian Craft | 24 Comments
Tags: Clay faces, Somak, Spastic Plastic, Sunnyside Up
Discovered! Purvi Sanghvi
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
Purvi recently graduated with an MA in jewellery design from the John Cass Dept (London Metropolitan University). These are just a couple of pieces from a collection she’s putting together. Loved them. Plenty of potential.
Filed under: Indian Product Design | 15 Comments
Tags: Indian Jewelry Design, Purvi Sanghvi, Recycled Rubber, Silver, Threadwork
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
Bijoy Jain’s works remind me of a refuge, a sanctuary. Almost as if he was recreating spaces he finds comfort in – an underlying wish for peace. I visited his office and had a conversation over good coffee. About his projects, architecture, even why the interiors of all his projects were so bare; no art on the walls, simple to the point of being austere. I was told they were shot before the owners moved in with their furniture and aesthetics. Clearly, there is great importance he accords to his work, his people and his peace. Presenting a selection of his works and thoughts.
> The Palmyra House, Nandgaon, Maharashtra, India, 2007
Filed under: Indian Architecture, Indian Interiors, Indian Stores | 22 Comments
Tags: Bijoy Jain, Bungalow 8, Leti 360, Palmyra House, Studio Mumbai, Tara House
Window Shopping> Bombay Electric
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
I stumbled upon Bombay Electric a long time ago, while waiting for a friend to turn up. The light pole outside had a stunning face, like a bohemian 70 s star, with a bindi and high hair and the signage did justice to the name. I walked in, past the leisurely courtyard into the white brightly lit space. The interesting non-interfering decor aside, I was struck by the individuality the clothes had – they were quirky, unique, had a distinct sense of style, and were unlike the usual boutique picks. The merchandise was progressive, spunky and for people who knew themselves. I picked a book on matchboxes and walked out flagging many things I’d like to come back for. Featuring Priya Kishore’s sizzling Bombay Electric.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 4 Comments
Tags: Bombay Electric, Indian Design, Priya Kishore, Store
I stumbled upon Bhuri Bai’s work on Hervé Perdriolle’s blog and was fascinated by her imagination and craft. Found the interesting works of Jangarh Singh Shyam and Jivya Soma Mashe as well. Presenting all three.
Bhuri Bai, Bhill Tribe
Bhuri Bai, Story of a Jungle, 70 by 93 in. (178 by 236 cm.)
Continue reading ‘Three Tribal Artists > Bhuri Bai, Jangarh Singh Shyam, Jivya Soma Mashe’
Filed under: Indian Art | 11 Comments
Tags: Bhuri Bai, Herve Perdriolle, Indian Tribal Art, Jangarh Singh Shyam, Jivya Singh Mashe
Just Spotted! SK Srikanth
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
A photographer by interest and instinct rather than by profession, Srikanth has a great eye for subjects and situations. I have three of his prints hanging on my wall at home and am featuring many more here.
Lady feeding Pigeons
Filed under: Indian Photography | 8 Comments
Tags: 4 by 6, Indian Photography, SK Srikanth, Utopia
Discovered! Mom Made Co.
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
Mom Made Co is the brainchild of Bhautik Siddhapura who decided to hand make all his t-shirts. Each one is numbered, handpainted and unique. Here are a few of them.
Filed under: Indian Art, Indian Graphic Design, Indian Product Design | 3 Comments
Tags: Bhautik Siddhapura, Mom Made Co, T shirt Design
Just Spotted! Mann Singh
A friend sent me a link to Mann Singh’s work. He works on varied things from lights to furniture to accessories and most of his work has a poetic bent. Featuring a few of his explorations.
Mann+Siddhartha
Filed under: Indian Interiors, Indian Product Design | 6 Comments
Tags: Bamboo Lamp, Indian Interiors, Indian Product Design, Madhav, Mann Singh, Siddharthatterjee
Quoted > On Luxury
For me luxury means the ability to surround yourself with
an abundance of pure and natural materials.”
- Anita Lal, Creative Head, Good Earth
Filed under: Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Tags: Anita Lal, Good Earth, Indian Interiors, Luxury, Quoted
Archi Feature > Samira Rathod
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
The first thing that strikes you about Samira is that she’s extremely passionate. I met her at the opening of the Devi Arts Foundation, in the midst of a sandstorm, her hair flying as wildly as her hands, as she shared her thoughts on modern Indian Architecture and design criticism or rather the lack if it. I got back to Mumbai and saw her work. It was as spirited as she was. Her windows were welcoming, her buildings had a body language. I had reservations about her furniture, but the more I look at them, I more I appreciate their individuality and enjoy their original aesthetic. Architect, Interior Designer, Furniture designer, Editor, quirky lady, here is a peek into Samira’s work and her mind.
The Architecture Projects
> The Bangalore House
Filed under: Indian Architecture, Indian Interiors, Indian Product Design, Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Tags: Architect, Indian Architecture, Indian Interiors, Samira Rathod
Aarohi Singh is a self taught artist. She paints in Oil, Acrylics, Watercolor, Pastels and works on Paper, Canvas, Metal, Cardboard, Wood, Fabric. Ambika from Little by Little(lovely girl, much potential) mentioned her. So I checked her website. I like what Aarohi’s done with the trunk and chair and the kettle. Her paintings though didn’t make it to the list or catch my eye, except a series of cows which was interesting.
Kathakali Trunk
Filed under: Indian Art, Indian Interiors | 4 Comments
Tags: Aarohi Singh, Ambika Rao, Indian Kitsch, lillbylill
View the entire campaign here.
Filed under: Indian Advertising | 2 Comments
Tags: Advertising, Less Plastic More Life, Meridian Advertising, Plastic, Vinod Lal
Just spotted! Jigisha Patel
Jigisha Patel, a textile designer, trained at NID Ahmedabad. Seen here, her explorations in felt. She works with the natural colour of wool, uses only 100% Merino, and is inspired, among other things, by Indian architecture. A look at a few pieces from her collection.
Created for her final project at NID and titled 'Jigisha Rug'
Filed under: Indian Product Design | 6 Comments
Tags: Felt, Jigisha Patel, Merino Wool, NID, Textile Designer
Samira Rathod’s home is tucked away from the road, in Breach Candy. Trees and birds and silence fills the pathway to her ground floor residence. The long narrow corridor that the front door opens to splits the home halfway. The Living, Dining and Master Bedroom on the left and the children’s room and kitchen on the right. Giant ceilings, large windows, it seems more like a lazy Goan Villa. A balcony runs from the Living to the Dining, ensuring her labrador has many exits and entries to rush in through.
The Living Room
Filed under: Indian Architecture, Indian Interiors, Uncategorized | 8 Comments
Tags: Indian Interiors, Laxminiwas, Residence, Samira Rathod
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
Tara was my first feature on Indian By Design. I was fascinated by the handmade children’s books they published. My favourite being The Night Life of Trees. The artists from Gond – Bhajju Shyam, Durga Bai and Ram Singh Urvet – were a revelation. A collective of writers based in Chennai, Tara works with international artists and writers as well as tribal artists, oral storytellers, street and billboard painters. Here we are, in conversation, with Gita Wolf, founder of Tara. Also featuring, a video on how Tara makes their handmade books.
Continue reading ‘In Conversation > Gita Wolf, Tara Publications’
Filed under: Indian Art, Indian Graphic Design | 3 Comments
Tags: Gita Wolf, Indian Children's Books, Indian Design, Tara Publishing
Now Showing > Chidiya Udd
Kavita’s having her first solo exhibition. If you’re in Bangalore, do attend. She does great work.
Chidiya Udd Invite
Filed under: Indian Art | 1 Comment
Tags: Chidiya Udd Solo Exhibition, Indian Art
Photo Feature> Zubin Pastakia
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
I came across Zubin Pastakia’s work in the Spade Journal. His study of Mumbai was refreshing, and refrained from talking of its old charm or it’s rushed populace, but seemed to focus on silent, perhaps unconscious conversations a city’s built strucures have with those who live in it or visit it. His work on Cinema Halls is alive. Like a commentary in the present, of things happening now. It does not attempt to romanticise their existence and leaves the viewers to make stories of it. Featured, The Cinemas Project and Built Landscape.
The Cinemas Project
Auditorium, Bharat Mata, Mumbai
Filed under: Indian Architecture, Indian Photography | 5 Comments
Tags: An Indian By Design Exclusive, Built Landscape, Cinemas Project, Indian Photography, Mumbai, Zubin Pastakia
Book Talk > Spade
Spade is a biannual journal dedicated to Indian Architecural Design. My first reaction when I opened the large courier Editor Samira Rathod mailed across was to its generous proportions. It was beautifully typeset, had great photography, no ads and ample words which promised heavy reading (and sitting in shifting positions having its large pages curl over my hands).
Filed under: Indian Architecture, Indian Interiors | 3 Comments
Tags: Architecture, Design, Indian, Journal, Samira Rathod, Spade
A design representation for ‘Can anything be beautiful?’. Created for W+K SIDE in London, by Latheesh Lakshman who emphatically believed yes. This is his series – India, everyday life.
Filed under: Indian Advertising, Indian Graphic Design | 11 Comments
Tags: Graphic Design, Indian Design, Latheesh Lakshman, W+K
*An Indian By Design exclusive*
In conversation with Anupam Poddar, Devi Art Foundation
Anupam Poddar, Background: Atul Dodiya, B for Bapu Oil on Canvas, Metal Shutter
IndianByDesign:Can one clearly distinguish between art and what is not art, today?
Anupam Poddar: I think it is still easy to tell what is ‘art’- the sanctioned and sanctified object. It is not as if we have moved much beyond that system of objects called ‘art’ as much as the system itself has become more inclusive, it’s modes of operation still quite the same… it has become sharper and more cunning though. On a completely personal note, I am often trying to find a continuum between art and architecture.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Tags: An Indian By Design Exclusive, Anupam Poddar, Devi Art Foundation, Indian Art, Indian Design
Design Feature > Anek Taanka
Kavita and Shami gifted me a Salman Khan cushion cover, hand-painted by a hoarding artist. It was quirky and very kitsch, and my introduction to Varsha Sharma’s work. But after seeing more of what she does, I am partial to her weaves and threads and fabrics. A graduate in Textile Design from NID, she started Anek Taanka a couple of years ago. Anek Taanka means infinite stitches. And her work is filled with it. She says “my challenge is to create pieces of textile that could inspire spaces to be designed around them rather than the other way around.” It is a big promise to make and I do hope that she does so, it would be wonderful to experience such a thing. Here are some of my picks of her work.
Cushion Covers
Filed under: Indian Interiors | 10 Comments
Tags: Anek Taanka, Indian Design, Varsha Sharma
Art Feature> Devi Art Foundation
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
The opening of Lekha and Anupam Poddar’s new not-for-profit art space would preempt a surfeit of words on artists and collections. But I choose to speak first of their latest commissioned work – the Sirpur Mills Building. For it is as much art as all that it holds or will hold within it.
Filed under: Indian Architecture, Indian Art | 4 Comments
Tags: Anupam Poddar, Art feature, Devi Arts Foundation, Gurgaon, Indian Architecture, Indian Art, Lekha Poddar, Sirpur Mills Building
Just Found! Infomen Art
Infomen is an Information and graphic design firm jointly run by designers Aman Khanna and Carlos Coelho. It operates from their studios in New Delhi and London. Here’s a series of eye-catching posters and bags designed by them, that’s on sale, on their site.
Cosmos – A series of posters inspired from electronic music and symbols
Filed under: Indian Graphic Design | Leave a Comment
Tags: Aman Khanna, Bags, Carlos Coelho, Design, Graphic Design, Indian, Infomen, Posters
Culinary celebrity Marut Sikka’s daytime café turned evening sit-down, Magique, in the Garden of five senses is set in a Delhi public park. This Asian fusion restaurant designed by Lotus Design has created quite a buzz since it opened last year. Indian by Design serves up assorted pictures garished with a quirky identity. (p.s: I have been warned that the pictures don’t do justice to the magical ambience of the place. Leave a comment if you’ve actually been there)
Filed under: Indian Graphic Design, Indian Interiors | 1 Comment
Tags: Ambrish Arora, Ankur Choksi, Arun Kullu, Asian Fusion, Brand Identity, Garden of five senses, Indian Graphic Design, Indian Restaurants, Infomen, Lotus Design, Magique, Marut Sikka, Sidhartha Talwar
Speaking Stones, 1998 by NN Rimzon . Now showing at Kashi Art Gallery as part of the ONLY ONE series.
Continue reading ‘Caught my eye > NN Rimzon, Brighu Sharma, Ratheesh T, Rajan Krishnan’
Filed under: Indian Art | 4 Comments
Tags: Brighu Sharma, Indian Art, NN Rimzon, OED, Ore, Rajan Krishnan, Ratheesh T
Occupying Silence by Devashish Makhija. At Gallery Kanishkas, Calcutta. From 21 August to 10 September 2008. Write to nakedindianfakir (at) gmail (dot) com to buy/preview the catalog. I enjoyed the beautifully written notes from the past that inspired his works.
Filed under: Indian Art | 1 Comment
Tags: Devashish Makhija, Gallery Kanishkas, Graphic Verse, Indian Art
ArchiFeature > Aniket Bhagwat
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
I featured Aniket Bhagwat last month, and there has been considerable interest in his work; landscape and architecture. So I got in touch with him (thanks to dear friend Ambrish), and dug deeper into his works and thoughts. Here’s Aniket Bhagwat, talking about his projects, meandering into thoughts on architecture, Spade – an Indian architectural design magazine published with peers, and finally wrapping up in a discussion on enduring design.
> Sirpur Paper Mills
Filed under: Indian Architecture | 12 Comments
Tags: An Indian By Design Exclusive, Aniket Bhagwat, Indian Architecture, Indian Design, Indian Landscape Design
Just Found! Pardon My Hindi
Pardon My Hindi was started by Chiraag Bhakta back in 2002. Currently all the products in the PMH store are designed by him as well. He adds, ‘PMH is always looking for people to contribute an idea, whether a product, a graphic or a contribution to the e-zine (What’s the Samachar, that comes out 4 times a year). PMH is based in Brooklyn but has an online store where you can see everything on offer.
Filed under: Indian Graphic Design, Indian Stores | 4 Comments
Tags: Bags, Chirag Bhakta, Indian Graphic Design, Just Found, T-shirt, What's the Samachar
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
I remember the first time I walked past the giant metal doorway, smooth pebbles curving into my flats, and experiencing Cinnamon. There was an air of quiet elegance about it. Along with a light-filled positivity that made you want to linger. Quirky artifacts, accessories and clothes were artistically placed around the 2000 sqft space, each handpicked for character and design. I remember picking quaint wooden bees on sticks, newspaper roll containers, Jason Cherian skirts, Michael Aram silver, glass fish. Today, I feature it with much nostalgia and hope that it remains as relevant to tomorrow as it was for yesterday. Here’s Radhika Poddar, owner and aesthetic guardian of this lovely place, in an informal chat about her love and longing for Cinnamon.
Continue reading ‘In Conversation > Radhika Poddar/Cinnamon’
Filed under: Indian Interiors, Indian Stores | 3 Comments
Tags: An Indian By Design Exclusive, Design, In Conversation, Indian Retail, Indian Stores, Interiors
I support > Craft Revival Trust
The Craft Revival Trust covers an exhaustive spectrum of information on handicraft, handloom, folk and tribal art in Asia. The content is sourced from a wide, credible and knowledgeable network of researchers, practitioners, academics, students from across the world. Now available for sale at the Craft Online Shop
Peacock Pencil, Parrot Pencil, Windmill Pencil
Filed under: Indian Art, Indian Graphic Design, Indian Product Design, Indian Stores | Leave a Comment
Tags: Craft Revival, Design, I Support, Indian, Indian Craft
Paul has been a journalist, socio-cartoonist, set designer and electrical engineer prior to being a practicing product designer. He is married and lives with his wife, a toy designer, in Noida.
ATE is a double bladed stainless steel pencil sharpener which sharpens large and small pencils to a comfortable sharp tip. Best feature > single cut twin blade / rubberized end rims for softer edges / satin finish Awards > red dot award : design concept 2007 / Jindal Stainless Innovation Award’
Continue reading ‘Just Found! Paul Sandip’s everyday objects’
Filed under: Indian Product Design | 10 Comments
Tags: Indian Design, Indian Product Design, Just Found, Paul Sandip
Now Showing > Dhruvi Acharya
“ONE LIFE ON EARTH” will be on view from August 7 – 30, 2008 at Chemould Prescott Road in Mumbai and from October 4 – November 1, 2008 at Nature Morte in New Delhi. More work on her website.
Filed under: Indian Art | Leave a Comment
Tags: Design, Dhruvi Acharya, Exhibit, Indian, Indian Art, Now Showing
Conceptualised in 2007, Memories of a Butterfly specializes in Bead Curtains and Murals. They say ‘Bead Curtains not only allow for a play with color, light and texture, but also enable us to create natural connectors between spaces. They have the ability to create privacy without disconnecting an area from the rest of the house, office, bar or restaurant’. I like their experiments with patterns, especially the Ikkat and graphics. Apart from curtains, MOAB also has box lamps, hanging lamps and candle stands with intricate bead work.
Filed under: Indian Interiors | 8 Comments
Tags: An Indian By Design Exclusive, Beads, Discovered, Indian Interiors
I support > www.treesforfree.org
I planted two fruit trees with them, and it was a wonderful experience. Here’s what they do, from the horses’ mouth:
We plant trees for free to heal the earth. As of now, we do this in Bangalore only. So if you know any place where a tree can take root and flourish, let us know. We’ll do the rest. You’re welcome to join us as a volunteer or a “tree planting member” (one who gives 100 rupees to plant a tree, every month). We also plant trees as a living tribute to your birthday, anniversary, or any other day that you want us to. If you like what we do, then feel free to spread the good word about our work. Speak to your friends, family, your company’s CSR department..do whatever it takes to spread some greenery and heal the earth.
Filed under: Indian Advertising | 3 Comments
Tags: Guerrilla Advertising, I Support, Indian Advertising, Save Trees
Good Earth just opened the doors to its enigmatic flasgship store in Saket, New Delhi. The products lend it the same air of familiarity, but the subtle yet mammoth design differences take you into a new space altogether. Designed by the immensely talented Lotus Design (Mehrangarh museum shop, Levi’s Rivet, Xylys, Khaja Chowk…), it’s dazzling, and definitely worth stopping by.
Continue reading ‘Design Feature > Good Earth Flagship Store, Delhi’
Filed under: Indian Interiors, Indian Stores | 8 Comments
Tags: Ambrish Arora, Ankur Choksi, Arun Kullu, Design Feature, Indian Interiors, Indian Stores, Lotus Design, Sidhartha Talwar
Just Found! Anagram’s Facade
Brick screen flanking wall of the South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre, a Delhi based NGO.
More on this on architectural review awards
By Anagram Architects, New Delhi. Photographer – Asim Waqif. Email them at anagram dot mail at gmail dot com
Filed under: Indian Architecture | 2 Comments
Tags: Anagram, Indian Architecture, Just Found
The Skin Speaks a Language Not It's Own, 2006
Continue reading ‘Art Feature > Bharti Kher’s surreal sculptures’
Filed under: Indian Art | 2 Comments
Tags: Art Walk, Bharti Kher, Indian Art, Installation
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
I first saw her poring over sketches and doodles and drawings and a half-finished series of Cats on Chairs. She was so childlike in her enthusiasm, in her curiosity for feedback. Her art, much like her, is simple, genuine and rooted. In conversation with Kavita Arvind, artist, NID faculty and founder of Chidiya Udd. She creates art ranging from childrens’ literature, gender and social communication to commissioned works for individuals, NGO’s and other organizations.
Birds, Poster colours on paper. 8" by 5.5"
Continue reading ‘In Conversation> Kavita Arvind/Chidiya Udd’
Filed under: Indian Art | 3 Comments
Tags: An Indian By Design Exclusive, Chidiya Udd, In Conversation, Indian Art, Indian Design, Interview, Kavita Arvind
Window Shopping > Atmosphere
Atmosphere, owned by Himatsingka Seide, is probably India’s first luxury home furnishing fabrics store chain.With over 2000 styles of fabrics in every store, the striking ensemble is well suited for home and commercial decor.
Continue reading ‘Window Shopping > Atmosphere’
Filed under: Indian Interiors, Indian Stores | 1 Comment
Tags: Atmosphere, Fabric, Indian Stores, Interiors, Window Shopping
On the list of the coolest companies in India (Business Today, Sep 2005), Happily Unmarried started as a one stop shop for people living on their own, providing services like accommodation, furniture on hire, rugs, curtains, kitchen essentials, but later shut everything else down and focussed on creating quirky Indian products. The creators have a whacky sense of humour and their packaging makes for a good read.
The Indian Handpump Bottle Stopper 
Continue reading ‘Design Feature > Happily Unmarried’
Filed under: Indian Product Design | 1 Comment
Tags: Design Feature, Happily Unmarried, Product Design
Discovered! – Pet Bottle Art
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
By art director Bhautik Siddhapura
Paint Marker on Plastic
Filed under: Indian Graphic Design | 1 Comment
Tags: An Indian By Design Exclusive, Art, Discovered, Indian Graphic Design
I love her style, and I think she’s priced it very reasonably – Rs 7000 to Rs 22000. Contact Kavita Arvind. A-406, Fourth Floor, Purva Sunshine, Main Sarjapur Road, Bangalore 560008. Email: chidiyaudd at gmail.com. Website: www.chidiyaudd.in. Work can be couriered to other cities.
Filed under: Indian Art | 1 Comment
Tags: Indian Art, Kavita Arvind, Shout Out
Europe belongs to Picasso, Matisse and Braque and many others. India belongs only to me.
She died at an age people start discovering what they’re all about. 28. Too young. 1913-1941. But what a life it’s been.
Continue reading ‘Art Walk > The resurrection of Amrita Sher-Gil.’
Filed under: Indian Art | 1 Comment
Tags: amrita sher-gil, Art Walk, Indian Art, Tate Modern
*An Indian By Design Exclusive*
Rajiv Majumdar’s 450 sq ft apartment had just enough space for his 6 foot 4 frame, his guitars, books and speakers. Though it did have its plus points. Enough light from a long balcony and enough freedom to break down all the walls as the flat belonged to his mother.
The first thing he did was break a few walls – the kitchen, the balcony, the bathroom and the bedroom. Then set up a fully equipped kitchenette with a sliding mirror door that shut when not in use, which is almost always (I did suggest he dismantle it and set up a phone, for takeaway).
The Living (he designed everything including that big comfortable bench and the delightful rug, except for, of course, the ‘insert drumroll here’ Eames Chair)
Continue reading ‘CHAI @ RAJIV MAJUMDAR’S 450 Sqft HOME’
Filed under: Indian Interiors | 15 Comments
Tags: 450 sqft, An Indian By Design Exclusive, Architect, Chai, Home, Interiors, Rajiv Majumdar
ArchiTalk: Landscape India
Supported by a vast database of landscape techniques and plant material, Aniket Bhagwat’s firm handles residential, industrial, recreation, urban, institutional landscapes, and ecological redevelopment projects.
Upcoming Projects:
Andaman; Currently designing a twenty two-room boutique hotel on the sea, on a land measuring 10.5 acres, which is covered with Areca nut trees and coconuts. The site is undulating, and has a stream that runs through it. Work involved: Site planning, Architecture, Interior Design and Landscape Design.
Continue reading ‘ArchiTalk: Landscape India’
Filed under: Indian Architecture | 5 Comments
Tags: Aniket Bhagwat, ArchiPick, Indian Architecture, Landscape
Window Shopping > Loose Ends
Loose Ends, located in Bandra, Mumbai, is a quirky garage store that retails home accessories and clothes and oddities.
Filed under: Indian Stores | 1 Comment
Tags: Indian Interiors, Indian Product Design, Loose Ends, Shop, Window Shopping
Tara is run by a collective of writers based in Chennai, India. They work with a range of adventurous writers and artists from around the world, and create books in house as well. I loved their Indian sensibility and their aesthetics. Beautiful.
You’ll find them here.
Filed under: Indian Art, Indian Graphic Design | 2 Comments
Tags: Children's Books, Indian Art, Just Found, Publishing, Tara
Recent Entries
- Archi Feature > The Garden Lounge
- Shout Out > Chhau Dance Festival 2010
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- Caught my eye > Aakash Nihalani’s Tape Art
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