Art Wear

Making furniture is art, weaving fabrics is an art. And since Harmony isabout furnishings which are an art too fashion was a natural step forHarmony to take as all forms of art have a meeting point," says Ambani.Lascelles Symons could not agree more. Says he, "It’s a great idea to fuseart and fashion. In fact, fashion should be seen as part of the art world."Lascelles himself has tied up with artist called Justin, who uses tiles andother objects to make art works. "It has been quite difficult to fuse ourideas, but it has worked out in the end," says the designer. The others whohave made it work as a team effort include Shaina NC and sister BrindaChudasama-Miller, Raisa Husain and father M F Husain and Wendell Rodericksand Goan artist Ted Misquitta. "We have tried to choose young designerssince Harmony is about promoting new talent. Plus, I did not believe thatestablished designers would be able to give enough time to the project. Iwanted everyone involved in the project to give it their 100 per cent," saysAmbani. Not an unreasonable expectation given that she has been working onHarmony since October 1999 and on the wearable art pavilion since December.

Not that research ever stops. Every art invite that Mrs Ambani gets is filedaway so that when she makes her final selection, she has a record of whathas been exhibited throughout the year. "I try to go to as many artexhibitions as I can, but even if I don’t make it, I study the artist’scatalogue," she says. Involved in every aspect, from the selection to thehanging of the work, Ambani has a small team, led by Vickram Sethi, thatshares her unflagging enthusiasm. Says Sethi (the curator), "The human bodyhas been treated so wonderfully by Indian artists. Look at the fresco workat Ajanta, look at the carvings on our temples, the body has been treatedwith such sensitivity." But it’s not all talk and no pay. Harmony will begiving out awards, including a Rs one lakh award to the best emerging artistof the year (last year the winners were Anju Dodiya and Paresh Maity). "Artis an expensive business. The canvases, the paints, the materials, all costmoney and the artist needs as much help as they can get," says Ambani.

However, she is fully aware of the fact that art costs a lot , which is whythe focus of the show is on ensuring a wide range of the affordable. "Someof the work costs only Rs 5,000. It’s really only the well-known artists whocharge high prices." Most of all Ambani is driven by the zeal to promoteart. Encouraged by the fact that so many corporate house sponsor art, shesays, "In the old days royalty supported art, now it’s the corporate house."