STUDIO WRAP
GUNJAN GUPTA, 44
IKKIS IS A COLLECTION COMPRISING A RANGE OF LIMITED AND UNLIMITED 21 OBJECTS REINTERPRETING CLASSICAL INDIAN FORMS, CRAFT AND MATERIALS
EVERY OBJECT DESIGNED BY HER
tells a story. Blending together Indian aesthetics and western forms, they might use simple materials but have a luxe look. One of the early proponents of contemporary Indian design, Gunjan Gupta started Studio Wrap, a luxury furniture and product design studio, in 2006, drawn from the concept that wrapping any item gives it a new identity. Her first product— the Dining Throne chair—made from pure silver sheet, gold leaf and wood was launched in London in 2006 and was an instant hit. There’s been no looking back for her since. Regular at international design fairs such as Design Miami in US, Art Basel in Switzerland, the Venice Design Biennale in Italy, Design Days Dubai in Dubai and Fuorisalone in Milan, she works with galleries in Italy and London for her signature throne chairs and sculptural artworks, sells to private collectors and celebrities globally, and her artworks have been collected by museums as well. Most recently, in 2018, her Muda Walla bicycle throne, a sculptural installation made using bamboo stools, steel frame and recycled parts was part of the most iconic pieces at a design exhibition held at Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris along with creations by others such as Philippe Starck, Jasper Morrison, Jean Prouvé, and Iris van Herpen.
Fling with Design
As a child growing up in Mumbai, it was Gupta’s mother who was
a big influence and helped her develop a unique design sense. Gupta did her masters in design from Central Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design in London in 2006. “At the heart of my work lies my interest in India’s cultural heritage and its contemporary relevance to our lives,” she says. Concept, craft and context are the three Cs she works around and uses natural materials such as wood, stone, terracotta, bamboo, jute and metal besides precious materials such as silver, gold leaf and semi-precious stones that are intrinsic to the decorative arts of India. “I love this contrast of mundane and precious materials that India has to offer and their juxtaposition is so real and beautiful,” she says. While her products mix art and craft, they have a strong universal appeal and are futuristic. “
Inspiration and Ideas
Gupta is fond of travelling, meeting new people, visiting their homes, eating different cuisines, and learning their histories through family albums. She says, “I travel frequently and although the creative juices are constantly flowing, most of the critical design decisions are made on long plane journeys or on business trips when the mind is switched off.” It’s because of such stimulants that whenever she comes up with any new design or collection, it leaves design critics and connoisseurs speechless. Her Matka Mix coffee table made from handcrafted red sandstone, copper and wood is such an example.
New on the Block
Keen to take Made in India as a luxury standard on a global scale, Gupta launched Ikkis (21 in Hindi) in Paris in January 2019. The collection comprises a range of limited and unlimited 21 objects reinterpreting classical Indian forms, craft and material. “The world is waiting for what India has to offer and Ikkis is a step in that direction,” she says. Functional, whimsical, stackable and modular, she gives everyday objects such as a lota (vessel) and chai (tea) glass a new lease of life as jars and champagne flutes.