Luxebook August 2022

One of his most challenging projects in the recent times, Rathi shares, was an installation inspired by Gulmohar trees; the project was executed for a banquet in Kolkata. “It covered an area of 1,300 square feet, with frames made from hand-cast brass, and over 150 art-glass flowers that were hand-blown, using colours inspired by the Gulmohar flowers.” The installation was a long and tedious project that spanned over multiple lockdowns, and took over a year to finish. Nonetheless, the challenges to “…produce each hand-cast branch using unique moulds, and fabricating them in a modular manner...” wan an opportunity to learn for the studio. The art of glass Although the studio experiments with different materials like metals and ceramics for its installations, glass is the key material used to create unique designs. “Glass as a material has existed for over 3,000 years. Its versatility, long life, and recyclable abilities makes it quite useful in several industries including the interior and design industry,” says Rathi. Over the years, the studio has been exploring glass as a medium of design, while trying to find new ways to incorporate the material within the Indian design context. These include pairing it with different materials — some mainstream, some unique. “As a lighting studio, we work with a wide selection of materials ranging from metals and ceramics to acrylics and mouldable plasters, along with a variety of Indian crafts sectors and artisans, across the country. A majority of our work combines different materials and industrial processes together to make a product. For example, crafts like Channapatna, which were traditionally used for wooden toys, and Bidri, a casting craft traditionally used for making hand- etched vessels, are incorporated by designing the frame and details or entire fixtures using the traditional craft, giving the product a very unique look.” The studio heavily relies on the use of glass for its artistic hand-blown glass lighting products and installations.Given the scarcityof glass in India,the studio was dependant on international imports. This posed multiple challenges for the studio during the lockdown in 2020, with the heavy increase in global logistics. However, looking on the brighter side, this scenario became a catalyst for the studio to launch the first art- glass studio in India. Partnering with Ismail Plumber, a glass artist and long-time collaborator with the studio, Arjun Rathi Designs launched the Rural Modern Glass Studio in Mumbai in 2021. The Rural Modern Glass Studio is a unique space that explores the art of glass blowing among other glass production techniques that produce glass art, tableware, lighting, furniture, and accessories. In addition to creating masterful glass art, the Rural Modern Glass Studio hopes to encourage dialogue about glass as a design material. Owing to spreading awareness about glass design, the studio also attracting glass enthusiasts and people from within the design industry through interactive workshops and production support for custom glassware. The glass studio represents a space for experimentation and innovation to create new shapes and forms which can be used for installations in the future. As of now, the glass studio is used to develop A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 | L U X E B O O K | 29 28| L U X E B O O K | A U G U S T 2 0 2 2