artnlight

Late, but better than never. I talk of the exhibition which was so much more than that and true to its word, it was really a Celebration of Design, Art & Culture. When I look back at the 3 days in Delhi, I'm filled with wistfullness, because that time won't come again. Why do I miss it so much? The pure adrenalin, the rush, the anticipation of how well an event will go, the unpacking and setting up - which we could do at leaisure. How beautiful Serendipity looked. When I think back the one visual that is dear to me will be the continual sweeping of the floors with Khus scented water, to cool the place down. And Bhavna diligently dropping fragrance into the huge marigold decorated pots at Serendipity. It was another world, so different from Bombay, so differently paced. And yet once the exhibition began it was business as usual. I have been at exhibitions where business has been so slow that I have had enough and more time to shoot, to hang out and socialise with fellow exhibitors. I had prayed that this should not be such an exhibition - yes I had wished that I be so busy selling that there was no time to hang out and chill. And yet when my wish was granted, I found myself wishing for a few moments of rest when I could relax and catch a relaxed bite at the beautiful terrace at Serendipity which I only could discover at the very fag end of day 1 of the exhibition. Sharing a few pics from that day - when we shot before the people came in and work began.

Delhi was so much warmth, of people who came in - so many told me "we've been readers of your blog for so many years & finally you are here" Meeting one of my 1st few buyers Vani Kurup, hearing that she still uses my products & that they are going strong, were special moments.

 Leehkin and

Tejinder Singh

 Catch Thiru S's monumental work at his website

 Rugberry

Anais Basu of  Tia Pakhi and Thiru S in a relaxed moment - before the madness began :)

 If anything is as good looking as their work it is the power girls themselves. Flag bearers of the exceptional Ek Karkhana & Miraas Jewellery

All set for the fabulous Hindustani Music by Vidya Shah, who transported the listeners to another era. And what better setting than the beautiously lit  Serendipity.
Stay tuned for one more post where you get to see close ups at the Art&Light room and better dekkos at Tia Pakhi and Leekhin.
Image credits: Vineeta Nair, Serendipity, Anaam

Its the days before an exhibition, everything is hectic, the lists are endless till you reach a point of- 'beyond this whatever drops, drops'.  After my 1st exhibition in Ahmedabad, I unconsciously swore to myself, no out of Bombay exhibitions. It was crazy. Why would anyone do this? Pack all your stuff, which is humungous - Ok, a public confession - from the time I started shipping my stuff I became completely envious of fashion designers and people who design and deal in fabric. Its light, it folds, you can roll it - it wont break or chip if it falls, it is fairly unharmable in the face of merciless cargo dealers who think nothing of hurling cartons. So back to where I was - who would voluntarily take their stuff to another city? Figure out your accomodation, figure out your helper's/colleagues accomodation, book tickets, and the worst is the call you need to take on how much to carry. What will sell, what won't. Because you are interstate, you can't exactly run back to your studio and pick up extras that are selling well. And won't you look like a mammoth fool if you land up with too much stock? Or too less. And yet, here I am. Going through it all once again. I tell myself I would do this only for Delhi. I have heard so much about how much I 'should' go to Delhi, that its literally coming out of my ears :) So here I am. Packed, or over packed - depends on the way you look at it, ready to be headed out.

Happy to share with all of you the vintage part of the Artnlight Diwali Collection 2014. 

I have been wanting to try out this colour scheme for ages. This time it just came together.

Need to share a few more designs. I have designed cushion covers as well this time. But have not yet shot them. Soon, very soon they will be on the online shop. Stay tuned. And please don't go. There is much coming up. 

Meantime, all the people in Delhi who read this blog, do mark your calenders and come over to Serendipity, to shop this collection and much more. You will see all the popular artnlight designs out in FULL array. You will get to meet the dynamic Bhavna Bhatnagar whose An Indian Summer is organising the event. Plus you will get to meet a whole bunch of phenomenally talented designers & entrepreneurs. Chandan Dubey and her very exciting new line of Stools and tables and trunks will be on show. Looking forward to meeting you all, in person.

These products are not yet on artnlight's online store. But they will soon be. Please wait for the announcement. 

And there's more. So stay tuned :)
This collection will be at my exhibition in Delhi, Here is the event invite,
Click on the 'going' button and COME :) Looking forward to meeting all of you.
On the 27th & 28th September, Serendipity, Chattarpur. New Delhi.

 

 In the rectangular format I get to indulge myself with a bit more of story telling. His vision is a balance of scriptures and sport.

The ever popular 'Bani Thani' which literally translates to 'made up & well dressed' is a foil to this King, to his all his straight scriptures and lines, her curves jewels and flowers.

 These products are not yet on artnlight's online store. But they will soon be. Please wait for the announcement. 

And there's more. So stay tuned :)
This collection will be at my exhibition in Delhi, Here is the event invite,
Click on the 'going' button and COME :) Looking forward to meeting all of you.
On the 27th & 28th September, Serendipity, Chattarpur. New Delhi.

The days are once again ruled by the tyranny of endless to-do lists. As many as you cross off triumphantly, more crop up in gleeful defiance. It is an exhibition, that too in another city, logistics, deadlines, endless following up, haggling for time with everyone who works with you, the excitement of seeing your vision translate into reality, packaging, should I add tags? what about display? How much do I pack? Among all these concerns, the day you shoot your products, is a welcome respite. You let everything wait while you see what you've created through your camera - does it make the cut? Does it shoot well? For me - it is always a different experience seeing my products with my eyes & then seeing their images. Some products are more photogenic than others. This one needs more love - the colour needs to be brighter - maybe more saturated? And some surprise you - this works! Seeing a picture of something can give you perspectives your naked eye can't. Does it work that way for you as well?

Sharing a few 'teaser' pics of what will be Art&Light's New Diwali Collection 2014

Stay tuned, will share more pics and the new collection over the next few posts.
Meantime do check out AnIndianSummer for all the hot news and exciting designers lined up for the Exhibition that will happen at Serendipity, Delhi. The dates are 27th & 28th September. 

Have you signed up for the event yet?

An entrepreneur's life can teach you many things. A BIG lesson is that there are only 24 hours in a day and one need to prioritize and get the important things done. That life has been very busy here is an understatement. My team and me are busy gearing up for the festive season & the new artnlight collection that will be launched at anIndian Summer & Serendipity's exhibition in Delhi, this coming September 27& 28th. In getting what needs to be done, there are many many things that I love that don't get done.  From that long list there is one that I'm going to just do just now, irrationally, because the artist and her work & my regard for it commands it. And because if even a couple of people in Delhi get to see this exhibition which I am dying to go for in Delhi, before the 20th September because of this post, this post is well worth it.

Santosh Jain is an artist, a much felicitated and awared artist. Her current solo show of Digital works, is titled ‘Amor Fati’ or ‘love of one’s fate’ is an attitude in which one sees everything that happens in life, including suffering and loss, in a positive light. It’s a philosophy that resonates in Santosh’s fearless attitude towards her life and her art.

What is interesting is how strongly conceptual and above and beyond the realm of merely digital cut paste pretty Santosh Jain's work is. What is interesting is the strong narratives she creates by juxtaposing her own photography with iconic images by great painters, with a sense of responsibility. What is interesting is that she is 65 years old and has recently after retirement taught herself the digital medium and using the digital camera. That she very quickly found her voice in the medium and expresses it masterfully is evident in the stories and atmospheric pieces that come together and create this 'Amor Fati'

All art lovers in Delhi whose interest in piqued by this, you have 2 more days to catch it live, and maybe a chance to interact with the artist herself.

The exhibition is at: GALLERY PIONEER, LADO SARAI, NEW DELHI

And for all of us who do not live in Delhi, and want to see more of her work, do check this pinterest link.

  The dates are: September 27th - 28th

At Serendipity's lovely haveli at Chattarpur, New Delhi

Come anytime between 11:00am till 9:00pm

The performances happen from 06:30pm till 08:00pm

Click on the facebook invite right here

And this is the event page - just hit up the join button & come :)

These past 12 days - ever since I announced the Mug festival has been a flurry of activity at the Artnlight Studio - parcels have been packed steadily and have been shipped across to people from across India. What touched me the most is that this time round there were more people gifting it than people buying it for themselves and as a trend I saw that while people bought a mug or 2 for themselves - they bought more for people who live far away from them. These messages are beautiful and that people felt it would brighten someones day or make a difference to them - made my day. So I'm extending the festival and give-away deadline + the FREE shipping for 3 more days - till Monday - September 2nd night.

For people seeing this for the 1st time click this link for all the details.

New deadline? 2nd September 2014.