‘Concoction', Jaipur Rugs' latest collection, created in collaboration with architect and interior designer Shantanu Garg, was launched on May 5 on Jaipur Rugs' social media platforms. “The name Concoction reflects multiple layers of creative amalgamations, but each oriented towards making the beauty and design of this collection an integral part of your home,” says Yogesh Chaudhary, Director of Jaipur Rugs. The collection comprises a total of 12 rugs, the designs of which evoke strong art, architectural and design aesthetics of the Middle East, Southern Europe and India. “Inspired by the graphical approach of the Bauhaus Movement, it celebrates a glorious chapter of India's architectural legacy—one wherein the aesthetic of historical spaces was an amalgamation of Mughal, Ottoman and traditional Indian designs,” adds Garg.
The Collection
Each piece draws from traditional influences yet reflects a modern appeal. Bold forms, stark lines and intricate patterns, deftly hand-tufted and hand-knotted by artisans, ensure Garg's vision for each rug is realised wholly. The designs seek to highlight different architectural features and elements, all rooted in certain historical narratives. His articulation and interpretation of these, coupled with impeccable execution by artisans generate a deep visual interest in each of the pieces. ‘Royal Treasure' positions a monochrome checkered Indian flooring pattern against the vibrancy of an inlaid Parisian marble table while ‘Pol' limns the intricacy of patterns often seen on Moghul entrance gateways and ‘Baori' is an attempt at reimagining these ancient stepwells as lotus ponds. The rest of the nine pieces too, exhibit engaging designs backed by intriguing narrations. Putting it across succinctly, Chaudhary says, “To me, this collection is a graphical narrative of our architectural heritage shown in a contemporary fashion.”
The Process
The process of creating these rugs took a total of ten months. This included creation of designs as well as working out colours, materials, textures and construction quality to bring those designs to life. The impression of depth has been skilfully achieved within these two-dimensional pieces by using the high and low pile effect. “This depth was achieved when each graphical composition was made like an assembly of multiple proportions segregated in recession, and then the grandeur and sumptuousness of certain elements was repeated all over the pattern for a flourishing finish. In terms of construction, the rugs have carefully been given a high and low pile effect, to bring out the full richness of the depth detailing. Certain parts of the design have been trimmed down during the finishing process, so that the main motifs in the pattern get highlighted, giving it the desired three-dimensional effect from some angles,” explains Garg. When asked about his personal favourites from the collection, he is quick to pick four of them, ‘Salat', ‘Firdaus', ‘Pol', and ‘Baori'.
Online Colouring Tool
The collection is accompanied by an interesting offering by Jaipur Rugs, an online colouring tool. Colours can be altered and rugs can therefore be customised to cater to spatial needs in terms of colour schemes as well as individual consumer preferences. Having changed the colours, the modified design can be shared with Jaipur Rugs accordingly. “In terms of the product, it's our way of offering customised luxury to the consumer and with Concoction in particular, it's about allowing the consumer to forge a ‘telepathic' connection with the artisans, through technology,” concludes Chaudhary.
