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Beyond Blueprints With Ayush Kalsiwal: On Ethical Design and Indian Craftsmanship
Infused with centuries of craftsmanship and contemporary design sensibilities, designer Ayush Kasliwal is one of India's leading design thinkers and practitioners who advocates for artisans. Ayush, with his architect wife Geetanjali, is the Creative Director and Co-founder of AKFD Studio, an interdisciplinary design company based in Jaipur, India, which has elevated the fusion of unparalleled artistry with functionality in captivating pieces of objects and furniture that breathe new life into the legacy of Indian home décor. With Beyond Blueprints, we dive into a conversation on incorporating creative artistry and bringing out the best of modern Indian design in contemporary spaces.
An ideal example of an eclectic Indian restaurant, ‘Masti’ in Dubai designed by Ayush Kasliwal. Image credit: Lotus Studio
1. Sustainability is an integral part of your approach. In what way has it defined your design philosophy at the studio?
Sustainability has many aspects to it. In our studio, we start with some basic questions. We begin with understanding whether there is a need for certain choices, whether one can do things with less, and whether something that already exists can do the job. It is an approach that does not rely on specific guidelines. Instead, it is a socratic approach, where the questions reveal possibilities and raises more questions.
2. What or who is a constant source of inspiration for you?
India is an unending well of inspiration. It is this land, its beliefs, its gentleness and wholehearted embracement of multiplicity.
3. How do you express a ‘big idea’ in the form of an object? Can you talk about a project that challenged your approach to design and how you overcame it?
Sometimes, a big idea can be really simple. I was the curator of the Charpai Project with the Serendipity Arts Foundation. The idea was to celebrate a quintessentially Indian furniture object and express it as an installation. The word ‘charpai’ itself means four legs. However, the distinguishing aspect is the creation of the fabric on a frame. So, for this project, we liberated the legs from the frame. An installation was designed where the weaving was done on the frames that were then installed on a scaffolding, creating a reusable, reconfigurable arena that has, since been moved to several locations, with a life of its own. I think the leap here was paring down the 'big idea’ into its simplest form and then magnifying it to a scale where the idea is most beautifully expressed.
The creative arena at The Serendipity Arts Foundation: The Charpai Project expresses ‘big’ ideas in the simplest forms. Image credit: Serendipity Art Festival Goa
4. What would you say is the most underappreciated design element in a room?
The corners and edges.
A serene amalgamation of Indian jhali work with a modern outlook at the Kshemavana Naturopathy in Bangalore. Image credit: Shamanth Patil & Gokul Kadam
5. Do you have any tips on discovering new ways to find traditional wares?
Find the oldest market in town, and go explore. People are generally very open about sharing information.
6. What's a trend you would like to see disappear for good?
The idea of trends!
7. Tell us about five memorable pieces you have sourced or acquired recently for yourself or a client.
1. An antique Nubian terracotta vase for myself from Egypt,
2. A ‘haathi’ jhool, or an elephant cape, used below the howdah,
3. A Garuda made using the Kinnala Craft,
4. A beautifully crafted silk lamp from Fortuny,
5. A 200-year-old boat from Kerela, which was installed above a swimming pool in a naturopathy hospital (pictured above)
Accentuating the capabilities of the metalsmiths and the visual language of Indian temple spires is the Kalash Table. Image credit: Ankush Maria
8. How important is cultural diversity in your design philosophy? Can you share an instance where you drew inspiration from a specific culture to create a unique piece?
I wonder if cultural diversity is something that we actively go for. It is more about cultural appropriateness and making sure that whatever we are doing is sensitive to the culture and its context. That said, much of my work draws cues from our culture. One of our earliest products is the ‘Kalash’ table, a simple brass hand-beaten table that draws from the capabilities of the metalsmiths and the visual language of our temple spires.
The spaces that we design draw a lot from memory and place. For example, the ‘Narendra Bhawan’ in Bikaner draws on the richness of the lives of the rulers of Bikaner, with the overall impression of being a guest at home rather than in a hotel.
An ideal example of an eclectic luxury Indian hotel is the Narendra Bhawan in Bikaner, designed by Ayush Kasliwal. Image credit: Ankush Maria
9. What in nature has inspired you the most?
This is a tough one for me.
Philosophically speaking, it would be fire and its ability to destroy, create, and refine. On a more basic level, it would be gravity and the elegant way in which it influences structures.
10. As a designer, how do you approach the challenge of incorporating cutting-edge technology into your work without sacrificing the appeal of your designs?
Technology is another tool by which one can express one's design language. I do not see any conflict or challenges- other than a misplacement of values in the excitement of the new. AI and other digital tools aid imagination and the ability to share ideas, allowing for clarity between the designers, makers and patrons.
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August 2023
GRASIM INDUSTRIES LIMITED, Birla Paints division
9th floor, Birla Centurion, Century Mills Compound, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai– 400030, Maharashtra, India.
Registered Office:
Birlagram, Nagda- 456 331 (M.P.) Tel: (07366) 246760-66, Fax: (07366) 244114, 246024, CIN: L17124MP1947PLC000410
Allwood Contractor App Helpdesk
Call: 1800 120 1234, Monday to Saturday, 09:30 am – 6:30 pm (Except Public Holidays).
Product Warranty
Terms and Conditions for product warranty registration of Birla Opus products
The Warranty shall be effective from the date of purchase of the Product as per the tax invoice (“Warranty Start Date”), provided that painting work is fully complete, and the Consumer registers the Product for warranty.
The Product must be registered within 15 days from the date of purchase by calling customer care at 18001201234 or registering on www.birlaopus.com and furnishing purchase details as required during the Warranty registration.
The Warranty shall be valid for parameters and period as defined in the respective product warranty document (‘Warranty Period’) from the Warranty Start Date.
Upon settlement of any claim, Warranty of replaced Product will not start afresh, and will continue for the remainder of the Warranty Period from the Warranty Start Date.
If there is a break/ lag in completing the painting work, the registration of the Warranty and Warranty Start Date will be determined by the Company at its sole discretion.
The Company may appoint a person to examine and confirm the application of the Product as per the directions specified prior to registering the Warranty.
For registering of Warranty, where quantity of Product purchase is equal to or more than 200 litres, please call our Helpline on 1800 120 1234 with requisite details. The registration of Warranty in such cases is subject to a satisfactory pre‐inspection at site by Company’s representative.
- For the warranty to be applicable:
- Minimum volume of the product required to be purchased needs to be met
- Birla Opus recommended system needs to be used
- Product coverage and application guidelines need to be adhered
For more details, please refer to respective product specific warranty document and product information sheet.
Consumer may raise a claim within 30 days of discovering issue(s) noticed on the affected areas based on Warranty Parameters/ scope
The Consumer is required to notify the Company of the issue(s) noticed along with the invoice details, sample pictures and basis for Warranty invocation by contacting the customer care at 1800 120 1234. The Consumer shall provide such additional details as required by the Company and/or allow the Company to visit/inspect the painting site either in portion or entirety at the Company’s discretion.
In case where the Company decides that the Warranty is applicable on the issue(s) noticed on the affected areas, the Company shall bear the Replacements Costs as detailed in respective product warranty document to repair/ repaint the affected areas.
Replacement Costs shall mean the cost of material and labour required to correct the affected portions, as determined by the Company.
In case where the Company decides that Warranty is not applicable, the same shall be communicated to the Consumer.
Warranty is applicable only to the affected area where the Product is used in accordance with application guidelines and not to the rest of the areas.
In case the Consumer carries out repair works on the areas covered under the Warranty, the same shall be at their own risk and the Company’s Warranty on the Product shall not be valid on such repaired areas.
The Warranty will cover only manufacturing defects of the Product and will not cover any defects arising out of factors not in control of the Company. For more details of exclusions, please refer to the warranty document of respective product.
Except expressly stated, the Company disclaims any liabilities whether in contract, tort or otherwise. The Company makes no warranty regarding merchantability or fitness of products for any particular purpose.
The Company shall not be held liable towards loss or damages of incidental, indirect or consequential nature or for any value more than the tax invoice value.
In case of any disputes, exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Mumbai shall apply. Governing laws shall be Laws of India.
The facts and all matters concerning any Warranty/ claim/ dispute will always be kept confidential by both the Consumer and the Company.