Collecting wood

For over four decades Sunayna Bahl has been recycling old wood,transforming them from discarded pieces to sought-after treasures.

Sunayna Bahl transforms discarded wooden pieces into modern designs

For over four decades Sunayna Bahl has been recycling old wood,transforming them from discarded pieces to sought-after treasures. Since the 80s,Bahl has been salvaging reclaiming wood,such as jharokhas,huge wooden photo frames,polished in silver from falling-down havelis in Rajasthan and incorporating them in modern designs.

The idea was spurred by my husbands ollection of wooden carvings, says Bahl,as she shows an exquisitely shaped wooden block.

I believe,it is also a way of preserving wood,otherwise it would be just a heap of junk. The wood that I use is over 100 years old. Initially,I even used to feel bad when some of the pieces were sold out, says Bahl,who has a workshop in Ghitorni.

Her travels have also taken her around the Saurashtra region,Rajasthan,Orissa and down south in Kerala.

Bahl has been organising exhibitions of her objects since the late 60s. In 1981,she held an exhibition along with Ketaki Sood and OP Jain featuring old carvings chests and pillars which was sold out. Her upcoming exhibition,to be held at the Epicentre in Gurgaon will showcases 50 pieces,such as consoles,centre tables and pedestals alongside 25 paintings by Maryland,US based artist Nimi Trehan.

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