First Person 8212; Delhi

I was always determined to excel in whatever I did. Mediocre results were never good enough for me. I did not follow in the footsteps of...

I was always determined to excel in whatever I did. Mediocre results were never good enough for me. I did not follow in the footsteps of my father, Satish Gujral, because painting was not for me. I have always been interested in interiors, but the closest option at the Delhi Polytechnic was textile designing, so I decided to take that up. I worked with it all 8212; textiles, ceramics, graphics 8212; but after a while, I began to find it quite tedious. Besides, my first love was interiors.

I found furniture a very exciting medium and felt there was so much I could do with it. Every home and office needs it, and the needs in each place are different. In fact, furniture changes from room to room. I was determined to do something new, something that no one had done before. When I started out eight years ago, everyone was working in wood. Since wrought iron was just getting popular in the West, it seemed a challenging option to bring it to the Capital. That8217;s how I found my niche. Today, I do everything from tables and chairs to mirrors and light fixtures. My work ranges from pieces for a formal dining room to garden furniture, and even grills and gates, though this only on special orders.

Initially, I stuck to very simple lines. Now, I have become more elaborate and experimental with my work and constantly exploring different forms and mediums, often adding elements like glass, stone, other metals and wood into the pieces. Wrought iron has now become quite a fad in the city, especially for those who want to go in for funky furniture. But I try and ensure that my work stands out. I stick to classical lines, rather than the ultra-modern. So my work is not something you get quickly bored with, it will last you a good 10-12 years.

This is formal furniture, not just for outdoor usage, though the advantage over wood is that you can transfer it to the patio or garden, if you eventually want a change. Another special aspect of my work is my finish. Most people think wrought iron has to be either black or white, but my forte is the faux finish, which not many people do. The pewter, copper, bronze and gold petinas are all hand-done and each piece is unique. Of course, I have a well-trained and efficient team of about 50 workers to help me out, though I personally supervise everything. This is my first exhibition in two years and I have been working on this collection for the past six months.

As for clientele, I am definitely targeting the upper end of the market and my work is priced high because of the effort that goes into it. I work from home only by appointment, so this is a chance for new people to see my range in one place. Most people tend to have preconceived notions about wrought-iron furniture and need to actually see it to appreciate it and accept it as an alternative to wood. While I do the trendy designs on order, I personally prefer to stay away from simplified modern lines.

I really enjoy what I am doing. Coming up with new designs and interacting with new people gives me a high. I feel you have to be born with the gift, the urge has to come from within. You can learn how to appreciate, but not how to create.

What I love doing most are coffee tables and consule tables. I don8217;t know why, but I find it easiest to express myself with them. I have been working with elaborate designs and have lately added a lot of wood work to the designs, so let8217;s see what the future will bring8217;.