My exploration started from our annual tradeshow in Vegas and ended almost 24 hours later in Mumbai where I met my husband Wilson, who is originally from there, and was all-to ready to shuffle me around India to get my feet wet in his culture, eat his food and be filled with the general senses of everyday Indian life. Specifically South Indian life, which is very different I quickly learned from my first trip to India when I stayed in Delhi and traveled across the Northern Mountains of the Himalaya's.
As a designer my trip was really a complete blossoming of the senses. Vibrant colors which are layered with such effect that it gives the mind a dopamine rush of fabrics, metals, precious stones and textiles. The smells and layers of "masala" or "spice" as American's know that term permeate the air and surroundings. Those aspects are peppered around you in every manner, whether you are walking along the street, as in the above video I took of following Wilson through the largest slum (Dharavi) which was made infamous in the Oscar winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire or sitting on the beach in Goa eating fresh shrimp Thali. (Thali, (meaning plate) is a round platter used to serve food in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
As we travelled across Goa, onto a private island for a three day wedding of our dear friends, daughter; we stopped by the side of the road for fresh coconut water and I watched out the window as field after field of rice farms passed, sometimes filled with the occasional water buffalo. Goa was originally settled by the Portuguese and so the design is very reflective of that in the clay tile roofs and wood slatted open- high ceilings, also seen everywhere are hand-painted details. Hand painting is one of my favorite aspects of India. On the trucks you will see owners bring out their own "branding" through striking bright colors and decorative details!
We visited a pottery showroom, and I asked to see the artists who were in their studio above, hand-painting tiles for commissions.
The style of illustration in India is a cartoon depiction of everyday life in India. Perhaps commissioned by the family who is depicted here?
I found another example at the reception we had in Mumbai for the newlywed couple here:
It's would be remiss of me to do talk about Indian design without mentioning the clothing! I am completely OUT of my element when it comes to a desi wardrobe. Luckily, the "aunties" are always on the ready to help drape! I'm showing off my South Indian Sari design here.
Another sari and under the mandap at our Goan Wedding:
I found a tailor's shop, under my niece and nephew's home, which embellishes drapings for men and women. I watch in awe as the skilled worker worked so efficiently with glass beads, and they had a blast talking to me about all of the American references they could. (Which oddly enough involved a talk about Abraham Lincoln- You know this Kentucky girl couldn't resist teaching them that old Abe was born in Kentucky!)
It is so hard for me to condense this rich experience into one blog post, I literally tried to "takeaway" as much as possible, drinking in every experience whether comfortable or completely out of my comfort zone, so that I could look back and recall the smells, the difficult traveling, the masses of people, the vibrancy and sensory overload in the city and the quiet peace of the country.
What a thrilling voyage, all by design.