On Display
From six feet paper sculptures, sleek brutalist furniture, to an immersive dive into this year’s colour forecast; India Design ID 2024 has it all and more.
Although it’s the 12th edition of the event this year, it was my first interaction with what has been talked up to be the nation’s largest display of fashion concepts. Invariably taking place in the New Delhi’s NSIC Exhibition Ground in Okhla, it spanned from 15th to 18th of February, of which I had attended it on the first day itself. Contrary to my hesitations, it significantly surpassed my expectations.
My uncertainty stemmed from my visit of another spectacle, that took place merely a week prior, the Indian Art Fair. Despite the pieces showcased being soul-stirring, the structuring of the entire biennale felt no less than a maze. With over 108 participants, out of which 72, were full-fledged galleries and institutions, it was simply overstimulating, as almost no craft, was given its own proper space.
India Design ID was a lot more breathable, despite having more than 130 brands displaying their products, ranging from handwoven carpets to sleek bathroom lights; and this is the main exhibition I am talking about! With each category being grouped together, yet being stand-alone compartments, I had let out a sigh of relief.
Amidst all the displays, Asian Paints ColourNext 2024 did take the cake. Although I usually like to highlight the underdog, the multinational paint company brought their A-game. They forecast terracotta as this year’s hue, creatively emphasizing its cultural and historic connection to India. They highlighted its earthiness, dedicating an entire corner to the humble soil. They re-imagined it in perplexing forms; varying from pillars made of thin sheets of the loam, to intricate vases.
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Another approach which stood out to me was their theme ‘Indo-Futurism’, embodying a retro-futuristic narrative unique to the nation. Being a sci-fi enthusiast, I was in awe of their storytelling; like installations of Indian women dressed in bejewelled, gold spacesuits. It even featured sublime home décor concepts like a lotus-themed cabinet made of brass resin inlay, curated by the brand Scarlet Splendour.
Beyond the main exhibition, was the symposium showcasing paper art, design, and architecture exposition titled ‘On Paper of Paper’. It had some of the most spectacular origami and sculpting techniques I have seen in a while. It was truly hard to choose a favourite out of all the installations, but it is absolutely beyond me how artist Saravanan Parasuram layered heaps of coloured paper and simply popped-up small circles throughout the sheets, essentially creating a mosaic with use of depth and exemplary color theory.
Though I kept going back and forth between all the sections of the fair, my second last stop was the ID Collectibles; where my inner tennis fanatic did overlook all the niche pieces as I was suddenly confronted with a fluorescent ball signed by the Roger Federer. Never had I fantasized about being a multi-millionaire until that moment.
I ended the day by indulging in a nice scoop of Belgian ice cream, which probably gained me all the calories I had lost by walking 10 kilometers throughout the day. It is evident that India Design Week was a great experience, and I am excited to see what they bring for 2025, for I will most definitely be attending it.
