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Language of aesthetics

Purobi Menon

The name might have been derived from contradiction. But the lines for Casa Paradox's range of furniture are clean and uncluttered lending a fresh dimension to the environment. Its creators, Naveen Ansal and Raseel Gujral Ansal, have brought in a sublime line in their Fall/Winter Collection 2000. Their aim is to add to the existing vernacular atmosphere and integrate it piece by piece to form a composite whole or to work on a clean palette as per the requirements of their clients.

In fact, Raseel speaks of her designs as a language primarily because she views her work as a living entity. Her designs serve as a communication of aesthetics. The couple create designs by borrowing elements from the past and fusing them with internatio nal contemporary trends and communicate the sensibilities of their clients.

In this sense their designs are constantly evolving and not caught in any time-frame. Their niche clientele include celebrities, industrialists and corporates such as Arthur Andersen, New Delhi, Radisson Hotel, Ahmedabad and India Habitat Centre, New Del hi.

Their Fall/Winter Collection 2000 has been named the `Revival Series' because it picks up elements from the Art Deco period of the early-20th century (1900-1930) and fuses them with the minimal lines which are in vogue internationally.

In Art Deco (the name being derived from the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs held in Paris in 1925), geometric forms had permeated all the style and design aspects in almost every facet of life including architecture, home furnishings, interior design, je wellery and clothing. Art Deco is essentially connected to the work done by the ancient Greeks, variations on Egyptian artefacts and Middle-Eastern subjects, and used bronze and chryselephantine. Elements from Art Deco have always been revived and the mo vement has never really perished.

In their current line, while working with minimal lines, Naveen and Raseel have lent body and spirit to their creations by playing with the contours. Hence what would in a minimal design translate into a stark, sterile line finds form in softer, rounded contours that make a particular chair a more comfortable recliner. A side table (Rs 28,000 to Rs 38,000) with place for a subtle lamp could throw up the surprise of a slim drawer with a single elegant knob for those things which need to be within arm's r each.

The line of centre-tables are truly elegant with a perfect geometric support on a circular base (Rs 48,000 to Rs 68,000). Equally eye-catching is a new creation, a console (sideboard) on a huge circular base. The no-nonsense bar is the perfect setting fo r getting the best spirits out when the occasion demands it. Their pieces can find space in a home as well as in an office environment.

Is there any place for heritage in the otherwise contemporary collection? The zari-edged picture-frame, the marble-inlaid and mother-of-pearl inlaid table trays (Rs 8,100 to Rs 23,000) prove that heritage and the contemporary can coexist. They share a co mmon language -- the language of aesthetics.