Wood Craft

Greek-French artist Eric Sakellaropoulos is carrying forward a centuries-old legacy from Mysore — the intricate craft of wood inlays. In Delhi to exhibit his work at the Contemporary Art Space gallery in Lado Sarai,he recalled how a chance stopover in Mysore,15 years ago,drew him to the craftsmanship and the wide variety of coloured wood in the region. “When I came to India in 1993,I saw pieces of inlay wood in tourist shops. I was overwhelmed by the raw material and the gradation in colour found in Mysore,” says Sakellaropoulos,46.

Inlay work is a decorative technique of inserting different coloured wood and joining them to create patterns. Popular since the time of Pharaohs,new techniques have developed in France and the Netherlands. “There are 34 types of trees in Mysore,” shares Sakellaropoulos,who practised inlay work in Canada before moving to India. For weeks,he knocked on the doors of Mysore craftsmen who looked upon him as just another tourist who would leave soon. Five years down the line,they realised he was here for good.

The 12 works on display at the gallery are essentially functional and range from a coffee table to a folding fish screen. The vivid red in a cut-out of woman holding a mirror is derived from Patanga,a tree found in Tamil Nadu,while the rich brown of the Ottoman chair,with an intricate golden design,comes from rosewood. The works begin from Rs 50,000.

The exhibition is on till April 28. Contact: 65957097.