Back to the Metals

Mudita Mull's Designs: Fresh from the Mint


So, I have this interesting story to tell......I have had these two very sweet young girls as my neighbour for the last two years. For more than a year we met occasionally at our common staircase, running in and out of our respective apartments but with with a firm resolve that "one of these coming weekends" we would spend an evening together. And so life went on...excited snatches of latest travels as we'd mostly meet on way or back from airports and each time we'd sign off saying let's try and catch up this Saturday....till I find images of fabulous metalware being shown at the New York Gift Fair in my Linkedin Inbox. The name rings a bell and I search more on the designer's name and background. Guess what... the designer is none other than the quieter, lesser seen of the sisters living upstairs! I could have hit myself because those days I was editing Livingetc and there was so much that we could have done together. But it turned out that Mudita was not ready to show in Indian market at that point of time.

The last few months have seen a lot more activity, both at the staircase and in my living room. We finally broke the jinx and have been seeing a lot more of each other and talking design and elder sister Savi's great travel stories. Not forgetting their brother Anand with whom I share a special Dengue bond!

These are some images from her latest collection:

If you have lived in the hills,  Hydrangeas just have to have been one of  your friends.
Here it is a platter...fill it up to your liking

A little flourish wouldn't harm

Perfectly finished smart nut bowls

Salad Servers that will bring a table to life

After nine years as Head of Design at Michael Aram's studio Mudita now rolls out her own line and  shows mostly at International Gift Fairs of New York, Atlanta and others. 

While Mudita and self bond over Design; Savi, her elder sister, and I bond over Food! And I am going to ask her to join me for a Cake mixing tomorrow...until then...

see more of Mudita's work at www.muditamull.com

Phone Camera Library

Sifting through my Phone Camera

Yes, Diwali was a long time ago...and in this long period I have been traveling both literally and metaphorically! While on the physical level I did a road trip to the tribal and border areas of Rajasthan which included Pokhran and Pushkar besides Barmer, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur; on the metaphorical level I have been sorting thousands of pictures on my phone, camera and iPad. After eight hours of uninterrupted work, I find I have only just begun.

The ones below were taken at the Viabuzzino store (same building as Artemide) opening at Defence Colony, New Delhi.

  Light source has been concealed behind the front panel to show the  sculpture as a silhouette against the light washed wall.

Paper lanterns good for alfresco dining

Domes and colours integrated with lights

Lights that look like peel slivers!

Embedded LEDs?

Wall embedded lights 

Light graphic fixtures that have multiple possibilities for installation.

Upward movement

As is evident, many of these would need to be integrated at the architectural drawing level in the making of a building, though some can be retro-fitted, the designers say.

Happy Diwali!

Add Warmth and Cheer to the Festival Spirit.......HAPPY DIWALI!

Happiness always follows the flicker of warm flames...

Homes in Celebration

Homes Painted now Polish the Silver

By this time all the renovations, paint job and buying for Diwali is done and over...haa, what a relief.
Time now to polish the silver and pull out all accessories and crockery that will bring in a festival vibe all over the house. what the heck, its just a week in a year and one can afford to go over the top (in small measure!)

Look into your closets to bring out all that makes sense to deck your home look in celebration.

Incase you are looking for last minute purchases head to Moon River for some smart Limoge porcelain, very unlike the traditional OD of 24kt on solid colours. What's more these are the last few days of a fabulous sale. www.moonriverstore.com Other than MR,  head to Good Earth, Address Home, Appartment 9, Versace, Renovation Factory for china; and Exclusif D'Mart at Metropolitan Mall, Saket has nice salvers and serving trays.



NEXT   candle sticks, votive holders and all others that hold light unto yonder...

Manisha Gera Baswani's Solo Show at Gallery Espace

Hope is the thing with Feathers

The whole thing of going to a gallery to see a Show is the anticipation of how the artworks are going to stir you. There are the ones that show fabulous techniques, then there are those that are remembered for out-of-the-box concepts, for deft mixing of media and so on and so forth.
Few shows tie you down by showing present-day urban reality without a sense of dis-taste. There is a gripping intensity in Manisha Gera Baswani's latest works on show at Gallery Espace that one cannot escape. Smart and thought-out curation by her long time friend Prima makes the floor movement supple giving ample relief between the various media that Manisha has put out there. There are charcoals, acrylic and teawater mounted works as also video and other installations. Flitting between all these could have been a bit of a strain had the curation not been what it is. Worth every bit of driving to and parking in the mess that NFC has become...for sure visitors will not be disappointed!

OMG....how predictable our lives have become....many will hear a resonance of their lives in these sms(s)

Cross-over of miniatures and contemporary icons

In her teawater series one can see a bridging between miniatures and contemporary icons and patterns. Though she tells that there is no pre-meditated blue-print but a close study reveals a line of thoughts and strong emotions that is seeped in the demands of day-to-day life and the artworks are but a chiseled outpouring of these juggles.

Feathery precious moments in everyday life,  that are easily lost

"A new process of re-caliberation begins every time she feels she is exiting her Center" is very evident in the movement one sees between light and feathery works to the intense charcoals and then onto the tea water series.

Heart in the right place, even though within a metal chain jacket

The fine act of balancing many hats and standing perfectly straight on the axis of a sharp needle 

All trials and travails manage to pass through the 'Wedding Ring"

Feelings at the opening of a solo Show after more than five years must have myriad layers of emotions for any artist. Rightly so ....an energy artistically channelised! www.manishagerabaswani.com