Some wood for thought

Colourful creations

A dreamer, traveller, photographer, elephant lover, colour fanatic... These are some words conservation architect Indu Sathyendran, who also makes decoupaged home-decor items, uses to describe herself.

To make these pop-coloured tea trays, trinket boxes and coasters under the label quirky, she uses leftover wood, mostly from her projects. In an interview with Chetana Divya Vasudev, she talks about what got her started and keeps her going.

How did this hobby catch on?

About seven years ago, when I was working in London, I came across some decoupaged products at a store there. I was fascinated, so I bought all the materials and started making my own. As a hobby, I started decoupaging shoe boxes, stationery trays and even a waste bin. In 2012, after I came back to India, I gifted a tea tray I’d made to a friend. Then requests from others who wanted something for gifting started trickling in. A year on, another friend saw my work and got me the opportunity for my first stall.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

From the flowers in my garden to the performance artforms, people and culture I see when I travel, everything inspires me. I love travelling and clicking pictures, and I turn these photographs into illustrations and use them too. Most of my motifs are very personal for me. I call my work Kerala kitsch — it consists of the tangible and intangible heritage of the state where I have my roots, its popular symbols, flora and fauna and people. I use bright colours that appeal to people across India.

You upscale leftover wood...

Yes, as often as I can, I use wood leftover from making wardrobes and kitchen furnishings.

The first time, I got some teak but mostly it’s medium-density fibreboard (MDF). At times, the pieces aren’t big enough for what I’m making — what’s sufficient for coasters might not be for a tray. Then I source wood from the industry just as I source wood for my projects.

What are you currently working on?

My yearning to see new places, test new waters, brought me from Thiruvananthapuram to Bengaluru a couple of months ago. I’m currently associate professor at an architecture college. Only last week, I had the first stall featuring my home decor products in Bengaluru, at Kitsch Mandi.

What’s next?

I’m planning to start a website and scale up a little. However, amid my projects, and now college, I don’t get too much time for my hobby.