ROOSHAD SHROFF FOR THE GYAAN PROJECT
Of all the collaborations that Architect and designer Rooshad Shroff has worked on, The Gyaan project was the most fulfilling one. “It was one of the most satisfying projects I’ve worked on. On multiple levels, whether it was about reinventing indian crafts, collaborating with the most creative minds in the industry, and being able to contribute towards education for the under-privileged,” says Shroff. Curated by Shroff with Michael Daube of the CiTTa organisation, the Gyaan Project brought together twelve renowned personalities from the fashion, art and design segments. “The idea was to sustain craft and push the boundaries of marble inlay, translating designs by these individuals from the fields of art, fashion and architecture. from the fashion world, couturiers Christian Louboutin, Olympia le-Tan, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Sabyasachi, Anamika Khanna and Manish Arora contributed; architects B V Doshi, Bijoy Jain and interior designer Sussanne Khan were brought on board; and artists atul Dodiya, Tanya goel and T Venkanna also extended their efforts,” says Shroff, “I worked with some super heavy weights here, but the faith and confidence that they entrusted in me was endearing. it was intimidating and fulfilling at the same time to work with legends like BV Doshi and Bijoy Jain!”
“The funds we raised from their sale and auction went towards the construction of the CiTTa foundation’s Rajkumari Ratnavati girls School in Jaisalmer, which, I must say, is a fabulous piece of architecture by Diana Kellogg. The state’s female literacy rate ranks lowest in India; in rural areas like Jaisalmer, it is abysmal 32 percent. We hope that the Rajkumari Ratnavati girls School will change this situation,” informs Shroff, “This definitely has to be the most enriching project yet. There was this insane line-up of creatives, collaboration with artisans which meant that they were taken care of even during the lockdown, and of course, education.”
“THE IDEA WAS TO SUSTAIN CRAFT AND PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF MARBLE INLAY, TRANSLATING DESIGNS BY THESE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE FIELDS OF ART, FASHION AND ARCHITECTURE. FROM THE FASHION WORLD, COUTURIERS CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, OLYMPIA LE-TAN, ABU JANI SANDEEP KHOSLA, SABYASACHI, ANAMIKA KHANNA AND MANISH ARORA CONTRIBUTED; ARCHITECTS B V DOSHI, BIJOY JAIN AND INTERIOR DESIGNER SUSSANNE KHAN WERE BROUGHT ON BOARD; AND ARTISTS ATUL DODIYA, TANYA GOEL AND T VENKANNA ALSO EXTENDED THEIR EFFORTS,.” —Rooshad Shroff, Architect and designer