Exploring Expression

How do handbags, snaps from Ladakh and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan come together? If you8217;re shuffling through all the weird music videos in your mind, hold on. The three came together at a city luxury furniture address, thanks to the efforts of Creative Commune, a collaboration of designers and artists. To elaborate, while handbags and photographs were showcased in the same set up, strains of Khan8217;s music were played among other things, continuously, to lend a soul to the visual show. The event was organised at Coccon, an upscale furniture shop in the city. Ajay Rawla, owner of Coccon says 8220;It is important to constantly explore new horizons, and push our boundaries, to search for newer ideas and visions.8221;

8220;This was essentially experimental in nature,8221; says jewellery designer Eina Ahluwalia, who is a part of Creative Commune. The commune intends to pull down boundaries in creative pursuits and in process find new avenues of expression. 8220;It8217;s a fluid group where we intend to inspire each other, share opinions and provide honest critique of each other8217;s works,8221; says Ahluwalia. A process that is most likely to culminate in collaborative work with people who specialize in art, fashion, photography, designing, food etc. 8220;Like I want to develop a line of jewellery after brainstorming with a photographer. I also want to work with a graphic designer,8221; says Ahluwalia. Participants included graphic designer Hemal Kapadia, jewellery designer Sandeep Kapoor, bag designer Vaitika Advani, Gallerie 52D8217;s Laila sanyal among others.

Chennai-based photographer Varun Gupta liked the 8216;home-like8217; set up during the launch of Creative Commune. 8220;Photographs were displayed like you hand them at home. It8217;s quite nice to find them the way they are to be found ideally,8221; says Gupta. He brought a series of pictures taken in Ladakh and a series on the Chennai beach to the city. 8220;Among other things I shot animals in Ladakh and the beach series looks into interesting nuggets from the sights and sounds of the beach. The latter is almost like photographic painting,8221; says Gupta. While the photographer found the conept interesting, he says that distraction is also likely. 8220;However, it8217;s the first attempt and I am sure we8217;re going to better it,8221; says Gupta.

Varun Desai, whose company Littlei promotes eclectic live and electronic music events, intended to take off from where the visual part of the event ended. 8220;My work was to finish the picture. I played what people would8217;ve heard when they were seeing, for example Gupta8217;s photographs,8221; says Desai. So, it was ethnic global music, with strains of Israeli tunes and bits of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, that Desai tuned visitors into.

8220;We intend to take creative commune to other cities, abroad even. Collaboration with creative people from other countries is also on our wishlist,8221; signs off Ahluwalia.