- PADHAM
PADHAM - THE GROUNDED FOOT
- FURNITURE CHESTER
- YEAR 2023
RESPONSIBLE INDULGENCE
Many traditional crafts of India are facing the threat of extinction, and Mannar bell metal craft is no exception. Without intervention, this unique custom metalwork might soon become obsolete. It is crucial to preserve Mannar’s metalwork and other traditional handicrafts that provide a unique identity to their regions.
Our journey into the world of rural artisan communities in nearby towns and villages in Calicut was not aimed at ‘developing’ or educating them. Instead, we sought to reconnect with the essence of these crafts, rediscovering the rich heritage that we had lost in the process of modern education.
DESIGNER'S NOTE
”I always look around and regard my practice as a context—what it is and what it can be—ahead of all the firmly functional concerns. Thinking about its civic nature and how that can be enhanced, how the spaces we create can enliven the acquaintance of being there.”
ARJUN S NAMBIAR
Evoking the grandeur of an elephant’s leg, this meticulously crafted Chester furniture in teak wood symbolizes Kerala’s rich heritage and art. The monumental form of the furniture is inspired by elephants, which have been revered as beautiful and holy since Vedic times. The bell metal art embedded in the design further highlights Kerala’s rich cultural landscape, representing auspiciousness in various traditions.
