“Architects have become the authority, in a sense, on aesthetics,” shares architect Ashiesh Shah, “Sometimes we even commission artists who are not represented by galleries, and these artists go on to become really well-known, and that’s what creates a lot of careers.” His practice commissions art on an “hourly basis”, from both early-career artists to time-tested masters. For a Mumbai penthouse, he commissioned duo Thukral and Tagra to create a dome-shaped artwork, for another home he worked around Subodh Gupta’s gold chimta. “Art and design are a conversation,” he adds, “Right from when we start working on the 3Ds, we start thinking of ways to integrate textile, art, collectible design, all of that within it.” His current favourites include Devi Seetharam, specifically because her work with the Kerala mundu coincides with his own practice, and Theo Pinto, who, though based in Brooklyn, has a practice deeply rooted in the Indian cultural context.
Sarah Sham On Designing Around Artwork
Courtesy of Essajees Atelier
Before she made a name for herself as one of the country’s most versatile interior designers, Sarah Sham used to be an art consultant, and needless to say this has made an impact on her practice. “Not only do we get to curate art with our clients, but we design the entire house around distinct artworks,” she expresses. Over the course of her career, she’s gone on to develop long-standing relationships with artists. She also routinely commissions original work for her projects; she’s recently commissioned a large Seema Kohli work for a client in Hyderabad, and has extensively commissioned work from Madeeha Attari. “We’ve used tons of works by Yuvan Bothysathuvar, we have a very good relationship with Smita & Moksh, I love everything Tarq does, Sameer Kulavoor is an artist I just absolutely adore, and one of my clients recently acquired a Thukral and Tagra artwork which I am so excited and proud to frame,” she adds.
Iram Sultan On Connecting With Art
Ishita Sitwala
