IDW talks to interior designer Sangeeta Advani Mansharamani, the co-founder of Fine Lines Designers and her daughter, architect Aashna Mansharamani on their new venture — Clayola.
Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Courtesy Clayola
For interior designer Sangeeta Advani Mansharamani, the co-founder of Fine Lines Designers and her daughter, architect Aashna Mansharamani, crafting handmade ceramic artworks was just a passion which they indulged in during their free time. But slowly, their creations grew into an ensemble of wonderful products for the walls — unique embellishments, framed artwork, mirrors and murals — and for the table, like candle holders. This led to the birth of Clayola.
Here, the designer-duo speaks to India Design World on how Clayola was conceived, and what they plan to achieve through this new venture.
India Design World (IDW): Tell us how, why, and when Clayola was conceived.
Sangeeta Advani Mansharamani (SAM): Clayola was conceived as a convergence of Aashna and my individual journeys, and shared passion for ceramics. For me, as an interior designer, one of the most profound sources of creativity has been the work of a talented ceramic artist, Rekha Goyal. Both Aashna and I enrolled in ceramic courses around the same time — she at RISD, while I enrolled with Rekha. Her work is delicate and inspiring. I found myself deeply immersed in the art form and became a consistent student. Rekha kept showing me new forms through her meticulous craftsmanship. Rekha then taught both of us in a series of workshops and we kept going back to her for more.
When Aashna and I collaborated on designing the motifs for our home in Kihim, Alibaug, there was amazing synergy, and that ignited the idea of a joint venture. Our enjoyment of working together, coupled with a perceived gap in the market, prompted us to explore Clayola as a shared endeavour. The idea gained further validation as we envisioned our creations enhancing the spaces we design professionally. The interplay of texture, form, and colour in ceramic art has deeply influenced our approach to creating beautiful and functional spaces.
IDW: Why ceramic as a medium of expression?
SAM: Ceramics allows us to create pieces that are deeply rooted in our appreciation for nature and form. As an interior designer, I strive to maintain balance and harmony within spaces, often opting for a neutral palette that creates a sense of tranquillity and timelessness. This philosophy translates into the ceramic glazes we use, where neutral tones and subtle textures evoke a connection to the natural world. Working closely with Rekha, I also learnt the value of collaboration and the potential for innovation.
Additionally, Aashna, as an architect, believes that design should be visually pleasing and imbued with meaning and purpose. Each piece in our collection is thoughtfully curated to serve an aesthetic role, with a certain client in mind. The handmade nature of ceramics adds a personal touch, resulting in unique pieces that cannot be replicated by mass production, fostering a deeper connection between us, the piece, and the beholder.
IDW: What is the inspiration for your first collection?
Aashna Mansharamani (AM): The vision behind our first collection is deeply rooted in our appreciation for nature and form. Thereby, the ceramic murals and art pieces are the result of an abstract understanding of the natural world and a playful exploration of block prints. While each curve and contour are meticulously formed by hand, each piece is different from the other with intricate detailing. We strive to maintain balance and harmony within spaces, often opting for a neutral palette like off-white, greys and whites, that creates a sense of tranquillity and timelessness. This philosophy seamlessly translates into the ceramic glazes we use, where neutral tones and subtle textures evoke a connection to the natural world. Thus, each piece is thoughtfully curated to serve an aesthetic role, enhancing different environments with both visual appeal and conceptual appreciation.
IDW: What are the designs available in the first two collections?
AM: At present, Clayola offers two themes — the Metallic Collection with the idea of ceramics replicating metal… on how nature can look unnatural; and the Faces Collection, which embodies the philosophy of All is Mankind. It is inclusive in all aspects, and is a mixture of elements in neutral colours.
IDW: Can you share some of your favourite pieces from the collections?
SAM: Our first collection features a variety of designs, each crafted with meticulous attention to detail. One of my personal favourites is the ‘Ginkgo Light.’ Its minimalist design and clean aesthetic allow for versatile installation, creating captivating shadows when illuminated from different angles. This piece transforms from a functional fixture to a dynamic art piece, adding depth and dimension to any space. Aashna’s favourite is our floral wall tiles. The intricate edged impressions evoke the delicate beauty of thread work, while the process of folding clay to create the dimension in the actual flower adds a layer of artistry and timeless elegance.
Availability: Fine Lines Designers Pvt Ltd, 61, Advani Chambers, Kemps Corner, Mumbai 400036
Customers can also place direct orders on their Instagram page @clayola.bombay
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