The creations of the self-taught SHAHID DATAWALA perfectly reflect the quirky irreverence of the designer
Shahid Datawala is a very busy man. He has already apologised for postponing this interview twice, and when I do finally pin him down to talk about his latest furniture and jewellery collection, he is again regretful. “Do you mind if I catch a bitein between?,” heaskstentatively. “Lunch is the only free time I’ll get today.”
Shahid’s had four previews in the last two months, spread across the spheres of photography, jewellery, and products.today, the reason for his hectic schedule is the latest furniture collection for the Mumbai lifestyle store Pallate Design Studio, where Shahid is head designer—with four new collections, inspired by themes as basic as tear drops, cavities, pokes, and eventchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, he’s been caught up in the chaos that precedes any launch. “I derive motivation from mundane situations, from aspects in passing. I may not be someone who thinks things through, but it is important how I translate that through memory and observation.” The new collection bears testimony: the Swan Lake Lounge Chair is a pristine white, fluid piece, while Shahid has incorporated whimsical droplet designs in his Tear Drop bookshelf. The Spike coffeetable, where spikes emerge menacingly from the centre stand, is the most striking one, though. “Memories of a painful poke by a notorious teacher at school, known for innovative methods of torture, inspired this creation,” explains Shahid.
And that, in a sentence, sums up what sets Shahid’s designs apart from that of his contemporaries—a knack of interpreting day-to-daythingsandhappeningsinthemost capricious manner; it is a philosophy that extends across all genres he dips into, jewellery included. Shahid’s newest line of accessories, Thegreatbombaysewagesystemandtable Wear,flauntneckpiecesfashionedtoresemble drainage pipes, and pendants created from old cutlery. “The idea for me was to give an object a second life.withthe Great Bombay Sewage System, it was also about taking something ugly and giving it a beautiful rebirth.”tablewear’sisasimilarphilosophy— not wanting to discard his grandmother’s old silver, Shahid ended up fashioning pendants out of them. In a limited edition of 45 pieces each, the copper and silver jewellery is all handcrafted by Shahid, and retailed privately and in Atosa, Mumbai.
“Whether jewellery or furniture, design mustmeetart,”saysshahid.“soitis important that my works look like pieces of art.”
Interestingly, Shahid, 37, is self-taught; he says he was born with a keen sense for materials, which allowed him to experiment in photography and men’s apparel as well. “Objects fascinated me. I would just pick up anything and teach myself.” A visual artist now for 16 years, Shahid dropped out of school and started off by painting T-shirts, going on to establish the popular store People Tree. Architectural design followed, with a stint in photography, which Shahid continues to dabble in. After consulting with various firms, Pallate Design Studio approached him in 2005, and he has been with them since.
With an expertise in so many fields, the designer says he chooses what he does quite spontaneously. “I’m not in that sense obligated to launch collection after collection.” So no surprise then that he is already caught up in his next venture—a group photography show, Beauty and the Beast,t at the Mathieu Foss Galleryy where he is showcasing an installation. A collaboration with Swarovski, Shahid says the work is a comment on food. There is another solo, food-centric show on the anvil. “Yeah, this year is going to be pretty hectic as well. But that’s what I enjoy the most.”