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Artistic and commercial designs
M.P. Naren at his office.
ASK M.P. NAREN what he does for a living, and he will reply that "I do business with creative ideas.'' And that is where the name of his art gallery-cum-design studio, !Dea, comes from. It is in Langford Gardens, close to the Richmond Circle.
He has always been into designing, both for industrial and commercial use. With that innate flair for innovative and yet purposeful designs, he has created many things, including new-generation kiosks — aesthetic, utilitarian, and lending a sense of symmetry to an otherwise chaotic atmosphere — in railway station platforms.
Naren has created retractable show awnings, which have been praised by both show-owners and the traffic policemen, because they do not obstruct the footpaths. Another creation in the same lines is the foldaway "pan shop" for pavement vendors, found outside almost every big restaurant in town. These are considered "obstructions" by the police and frequently hauled away. The pan- wallah is left desolate and so are his customers. Now, hopefully, both are happy. Then came a business tie-up and a foray into digitally reproduced images large enough for huge outdoor hoardings and longer lasting than painted ones. They are also eye catching.
"All the same, those hoarding painters who dangle 60 feet or more above the road and use their hands and brushes with dexterity will never go out of business ... hoardings for movies will always need their special skills,'' he admits.
Naren followed this up with experimenting with signage of different shapes and dimensions. Naren's latest venture is !Dea, which has an eclectic collection of reproductions of graphic art and some originals. Here again his knowledge of digital graphics and aesthetic sense has come in handy.
There are landscapes, some reproductions of contemporary artists and old masters, and some posters of the kind the intellectual types like to hang on the walls of their homes and studios. Why a gallery selling reproductions of living artists? He feels the artist can get a better deal by retaining the original and his copyright on his works, while selling the rights to multiple reproductions which can be sold at a lesser price. This way, art can reach many homes and not get limited to the private collections of the wealthy. It also encourages young and promising artists who can make a living while waiting for fame and success in their profession.
Furniture design with a difference is another passion for this man who gets enthusiastic support from his wife.
Every item of utility can also be a work of art while one can also enjoy art of its own sake, he firmly believes. Visit and browse !Dea and all its displays (Ph: 2998219).
By K.Satyamurty
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Life
Bangalore
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