India's leading product designer, Gunjan Gupta unveiled CONTINUUM — a series of handmade objects and artworks that breathe new life into traditional Indian crafts from across India at the sixteenth edition of India Art Fair. With a 20+ year-long journey in collectible design, previously exhibiting at prestigious international art galleries and design fairs, the latest collection, CONTINUUM , builds on the legacy of 'GG Collectibles.' Known for its avant-garde appeal, GG Collectibles remains one of the most sought-after by world-renowned collectors and continues to grace luxury homes and museums worldwide. Gupta’s work and practice communicate her perspectives on India, exploring the complexities of its culture and questioning societal norms through collectible design objects, making them international-quality aspirational artworks deeply rooted in Indian crafts and tradition.
CONTINUUM, emerges from a creative dialogue with philanthropist, businesswoman and craft connoisseur Lekha Poddar and India’s master artisans. CONTINUUM is a dialogue spanning 20 years when Gunjan started her journey as a designer working with traditional Indian craft, finding common ground with Lekha as a collector, mentor and friend in the immense, untold and unseen potential of contemporising Indian master craft for the future. Poddar co-founded Textile Arts of India in the 1990s to promote traditional handloom crafts and continues to support artisans through various initiatives, including her collaboration with Gunjan Gupta on CONTINUUM.
Drawing on a rich palette of materials and ancient craft techniques, CONTINUUM reimagines traditional artistry through a contemporary lens, transforming timeless symbols into bold, functional home artefacts. In Gupta’s signature storytelling oeuvre that involves a carefree approach to stackability and modularity seen in Indian living across ages and Lekha Poddar’s deep insight into craft processes, historic Indian icons and monuments get deconstructed and reconstru cted again as 21st-century home artefacts. The three-way exchange between the designers and the artisans values both the artisans' expertise and the narratives embedded in their craft, ensuring that each creation is an expression of contemporary Indian design and a testament to its rich artisanal heritage. Each technique embodies centuries of refinement, where skill is passed down through generations, carrying history in every meticulous detail. By integrating industrial processes, these handcrafted artwork s achieve global functionality and enduring performance, bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and the needs of modern living.
CONTINUUM is driven by a single vision — to create high-quality, highly functional design objects that seamlessly elevate any interior space. The collection seeks to sustain and celebrate the adaptability of traditional Indian craftsmanship by ensuring its relevance and excellence for a global audience. It reflects on a time when, at the advent of globalisation in the 16th century, Indian handcrafted products accounted for 25% of world trade — an era shaped by the patronage and appreciation of fine craftsmanship across cultures.
Words Platform Desk
Date 18.02.2025