It’s a wonderful world because it’s colourful

Architect and ace interior designer Ranna Parikh doles out a quick overview about art, design, colour and their sum total that makes up her life

Ever wondered why ‘heart’ has the term art, in it?! That’s exactly what art means to me. Art equals coloúr and color equals joy… as a corollary, art equals joy! It gives us life and is the most effective prescription for JOY! That, in short, is my relationship with art.

And, how do I go about experiencing this relationship? I have experienced art using and playing with colours since my childhood — how two colours mixing leads to another, just like how beautifully we live one day at a time and add to the journey of our lives. Art is everywhere, in dance, music, poetry, paintings… anything that takes us along with it and leaves an everlasting impact on us.

Organising our public aesthetic in urban spaces is important. As a designer, I feel public spaces are supposed to be lively and welcoming, taking care of the presence of all age groups. The right kind of light, the little green saplings, the pops of colour on the walls, staircases and other architectural elements, every little detail matters to unite and harmonise a space. Art in public spaces can also be used to give a message, subtly.

A society should promote good art. It should consider the trending and most visited spaces in the city, and plan art displays and exhibits there. Also, the architectural buildings with high influence and historical significance that may have lost their value over time should be used for such gatherings, and recognition must be given to artists. It’s a win-win for the revival of the building as well as a new beginning for artists.

Being a big art enthusiast myself, I have collected art. As a sitar player and dance enthusiast, I have always looked at art as something that makes me flow as per its tunes. It’s an effortless process because it energises me and, thus, I prefer collecting art that has its own story to share, a unique identity and that brings energy to a space as per its purpose. I have a variety of wall paintings, metal wall installations, pottery, lamps, modern sculptures and textile pieces that I have acquired over the years.

I do have a preference though, like most folks. Being an architect and designer and working with different design trends, I have seen all kinds of arts, from traditional murals to minimalist modern showpieces. I prefer metal art pieces, sculptures, canvas paintings and a variety of textile installations that are in simple solid colours, and not too busy or disturbing to the eyes.

The pandemic definitely has had an effect on how we view or buy art, perhaps because people spent more time indoors and got bored looking at the very same things every day. I believe people are looking for art that offers variety, has a sense of mystery and is easy to maintain and replace or move. However, the phenomenon will be short-lived, I think, as people might not think so much about it once the impact of the pandemic diminishes.

The truth is that whatever happens, art will enrich our lives in some way. As for me, I will always keenly enjoy it. Because art equals joy of a lasting, colourful variety.