At India Art Fair 2024, visitors are invited to explore the intersection of art and functionality with the debut of the new design section. Titled “Art You Can Sit On,” this innovative showcase challenges traditional notions of furniture as mere utilitarian objects, presenting them as collectable pieces with both investment value and aesthetic allure.
Among the standout exhibits is Gunjan Gupta’s striking collection of chairs, some of which have earned placement in prestigious international museums. Notably, her “Boriwala Bicycle Throne” draws inspiration from the bustling scenes of Indian streets, where cycle vendors transport goods in jute sacks. Gupta’s approach to furniture design, honed at London’s Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design, aims to question the historical typology of chairs in India, which she describes as remnants of the country’s colonial past.
Meanwhile, Delhi-based designer Vikram Goyal showcases his mastery of metalwork, offering visitors a glimpse into the Thar desert landscape through a console table, transforming a bench into a Cubist masterpiece, and evoking the serene beauty of a mangrove forest with a mirror frame. While the allure of these functional art pieces may tempt visitors to take a seat, organisers advise against it, emphasising the pieces’ dual role as both art objects and functional furniture.
