The project was done for Studio Phalgun, Delhi.
Brahmananda is a series of handcrafted wall panels developed in collaboration with wood artisans from Bahadurgarh. Inspired by the interconnectedness of the natural world, the project visualises the Earth as a layered ecosystem, progressing from aquatic life and terrestrial landscapes to vegetation, skies, and celestial bodies.
The design emerged from a deep engagement with the craft's existing material and technical capabilities. Rather than introducing unfamiliar processes, the project explored how traditional wood-carving skills could be extended into a contemporary narrative object. The artisans' remarkable ability to create intricate hand-carved details became the foundation for the visual language of the work.
A key challenge was the dimensional limitation of the craft, where individual carved panels can only be produced within a fixed size. Instead of treating this as a constraint, the project transformed it into a design opportunity by developing a modular five-panel composition. Each panel functions as an independent artwork while simultaneously contributing to a larger narrative when displayed together, allowing users to create their own combinations and configurations.
To introduce subtle material contrasts, hand-dyed indigo Bandhani textile was incorporated to represent the sky and rain, while mother-of-pearl inlays were used sparingly to highlight celestial and sacred elements. These additions complement rather than compete with the wood carving, creating moments of visual emphasis while maintaining the integrity of the craft tradition.
The project is guided by a material and technique-led design approach, where innovation emerges from the existing knowledge systems, skills, and making processes of the artisan community. Brahmananda celebrates the idea that divinity is embedded within nature itself, within water, land, vegetation, animals, and the cosmos, revealing the sacred in the everyday world around us.
