Celebrity of the Month
Celebrity of the Month
Celebrity of the Month
Q1. What inspires you? What's your design philosophy?
Nature inspires. In all its beautiful forms - sunrise, clouds, rains, dewdrops, rainbow...Design Philosophy: Bringing in Change to bring out Art. Reinterpret everyday material and transform them into unexpected Art forms. This is at one level and then taking it further with shades of Individual Social Responsibility by impacting some social cause or the other - awareness, fundraising, tributes, revival of traditional art forms, employment generation and so on.
Q2 Sustainability - What does it mean to you?
Specifically, as an Artist of Change, the ability to upcycle, mostly natural and ecofriendly materials and reinvent new forms that give them a new lease of life from time to time, eventually making it an infinite proposition. Or a strong creative concept or an idea or an implementation that withstands the test of time and remains on this planet for posterity.
Q3. What is it that according to you should be done to improve the marketshare of handicrafts?
Continuous and Sustained Design Interventions to revisit traditional handicrafts and materials, so as to create new product lines that align with the constantly changing needs of the modern world.
Q4 Request you to share your experiences as an Artist-in-Residence at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and your gift to the President?
A once in a lifetime opportunity and a rare honour to have been invited and hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan as a State Guest for three weeks and an open invitation to visit and stay anytime. That too, in the first batch of four of us in 2015. Sublime environs and state of the art hospitality that bring out the very best from creative minds. In fact, in line with Hon President Pranab Mukherjee's vision, it is an ongoing initiative to recognise and felicitate the best minds in the country and provide them a platform to showcase and share their creative pursuits. The stay at Raisinha Hills is a reward in itself.
Q5 You have won awards and accolades - the Air Asia design etc, but what is it that excites you about your work?
The sheer width and variety of variables that comes with each creation. There is no one medium - from coconut shells, bangles, metal, wood, palm leaf, bamboo, automobile parts, bottles, handles, shoots and roots,screws and spanners - each time is new experiments and new experiences. It's all adrenalin, the final say when man has mastered the medium.
Q6 In and through all your design projects, you have always promoted handicrafts, craftspersons, and skills. Do you convey the value of this aspect to your clients too? Are they aware that your projects support skills and crafts of india ?
By and large, yes. As someone said - To live for others is to live true life. And if you can put your talent to good use and make a difference, albeit small in the lives of others, it surely is meaningful and bound to garner support of whosoever you meet along in this journey. Although, still could do with much more compassion from Corporates and the Community, especially in these uncertain times, which has impacted so many Artists and Artisans. We need to create opportunities for them and buy them time, so that they too can see through these challenging times. Am ready to intercept with ideas and designs, and can mobilise an army of willing Artists, but need the support from Clients and/or the Government.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACik4pU28fI
To interact with artists like Rahool, stay in touch with The DesignLuv Show - curated by D Studio.
