Pop show

At a time when most designers steer towards the off-beat,Mahmood has always looked for the unusual in the mundane. In fact,the quirks and vibrancy of Indian streets,its nooks and crannies have found an admirer in Nida Mahmood. “I find myself being attracted to everyday things and themes,for I feel I can weave a beautiful drama around them. What others find ugly and boring is challenging for me,” shares Mahmood,whose recent collection Maachis is inspired by matchboxes.

In fact,it’s this quirkiness in her collections that have caught the attention of the well-known museum in London. “The purpose of the Victoria and Albert Museum is to enable everyone to enjoy its collections,explore the cultures that created them and to inspire those who shape contemporary design,” points out Mahmood.

The project is scheduled for 2012 and the Museum is putting together a perspective on Indian pop art,with particular focus on Mahmood’s collections. “I am told the exhibition will have a 360 degree approach with the presentation,packing in Indian pop art,music etc,” explains Mahmood,whose muse for the season is,interestingly,the owl. “I am quite fascinated by it and that’s reflecting in my recent collections as well,” she adds.