Objects that tell stories

Today’s designers use art as a bridge — connecting what is ancient and fading with what is personal and present. In an era that moves fast, these objects slow us down. They tell stories, hold legacies, and make meaning tangible.

Swetha Vegesana, founder of Intent Made, reimagined marquetry — an age-old craft typically reserved for flat surfaces — into a nostalgic partition (Dhara Partition). The goal was to take something as rigid as wood and capture the fluidity of a saree. The design was conceived from her childhood memories of partitions in old homes. “Every home had one piece that divided the room, and we’d stand behind it to get dressed with our grandmom, or hide for a little while,” she reminisces. It’s a reminder of simpler times, while quietly contributing to the preservation of a fading craft. Wood became the canvas, and the challenge was to shape it into a soft, three-dimensional form. The right timber — chosen for its texture and moisture — was steam-bent and pressed into gentle curves. Its rich red hues lend the piece a distinctly Indian character. Beyond decoration, it evokes a feeling — something that feels both familiar and new.

Cosmic sconce

Another of Swetha Vegesana’s creations is the Tilak Wall Sconce, an exploration of the ancient cosmic symbol of Tilak, inspired by the third eye — a symbol of power and inner vision. The third eye transcends mere ornamentation for her; it is a deeply personal symbol, embodying a sense of calm and strength. “Focusing on such symbols brings peace and power,” she shares, grounding the design in her own meditation practice and inner journey. Materiality is key in this dialogue. The central element of the sconce (the third eye) is crafted with fibreglass, chosen for its ability to catch the interplay of light and shade. The stem and central arc, sculpted from wood, offer contrast and texture.

Tribal chair

For Priyank Gupta, founder of the Traditional Handicrafts Centre, the impulse to preserve and elevate traditional art forms is almost a family tradition. His grandfather was an avid collector of antiques; his father is a traveller and chronicler of fading crafts across India. Among the many pieces in Priyank’s curated collection, the Naga Chair stands out. It’s carved from a single block of wood — no nails, no joins, and no embellishment. Made by a Naga artisan in the early 20th Century, it bears the marks of time; the wood has darkened, cracked in places, and softened at the edges, yet it has not diminished. Traditionally, in Nagaland, such chairs were crafted from wood reused from old demolished houses. The low height of the chair is a nod to tradition, as such chairs were often used by heads of families or chieftains. No two chairs were alike, each was made for a specific person and shaped by a specific artisan. Its backrest carries a relief of figures — arms crossed in front — depicting the tribes in a group celebration.

Mantra in form

Curated by Anubha Laroiya Aneja and crafted by Studio Smitamoksh, the Gayatri Yantra turns the sacred sounds of one of the oldest chants — the Gayatri Mantra, into wall art you can see, touch, and quietly connect with. The design begins with the triangle, the most elemental shape representing creation. The upward triangle symbolises the masculine, while the downward triangle represents the feminine. The interlocked triangles form a star representing the union of male and female energies. At the centre of the design sits Om, the primal sound, held within a carved wooden sanctum — like a still point of focus. From there, the mantra unfolds petal after petal outwards like the breath expanding. The design’s outward flow gently guides the viewer’s gaze and mind inward. The materials — warm wood and cool metal — are not just about contrast. The wood lends earthiness, while the metal reflects light, depicting a temple bell at dawn. The Sanskrit words — Bhur, Savitur, Prachodayat — represent the earth, the sun, and awakening, and are woven into the design like a visual prayer.

Triumph over fear

Devika Khosla, Creative Director at The Works Interiors, speaks about a console crafted during the reflective days of the pandemic — the Wave Console. For Devika, the piece holds something profound: a journey of overcoming fear. Having struggled with a lifelong fear of water and never quite taking to swimming, she finally found the courage to dive. That emotional breakthrough is embedded in the form of the console, which flows like a wave in motion. The underbelly mirrors the mysterious greens and blues of the Maldivian Sea. Entirely crafted in wood and finished with fired veneer to reveal soft bluish-grey tones on top, the piece now displays pebbles and corals collected from uninhabited beaches — turning it into a memory of adventures. “Even the simplest piece can carry the weight of a story,” she says. Whether it’s the partition that evokes memories of an ancestral home or the console that marks a moment of courage, art becomes a medium for connection. It holds fragments of who we are and helps us find our way back to ourselves.