Going Creatively Solo!
October 2024 has been quite a self defining month. On the auspicious day of Vijayadashami, the last day of Navratri, celebrated in Tamil Nadu and other parts of India as Golu, we inaugurated “Udhbava- The Museum Studio” in Chennai. Udhbava as a concept has been a long time coming. I studied Economics and Marketing and worked in healthcare for 20 years as a co-founder / director of both Neurokrish Consulting & Buddhi Clinic www.buddhiclinic.com and have taken on a few ad-hoc consulting and social impact roles in this time-frame. My creative endeavours, however, have been very personal and expressed in the interiors of our home and work-spaces, apart from helping friends and family “dress-up” their homes.
Falling in Love with Wood:
When we redeveloped a family property, we made the momentous and fortuitous decision to hang on to all the Burma Teak that had been lovingly acquired and used for that building. So plentiful was the bounty that we managed to complete the interiors to two apartments including plenty of loose furniture. Working together with an accomplished and senior carpenter, I not only had the opportunity to get creative with furniture design, wardrobes inlaid with classic fabric, colonial 4 poster beds reimagined and such like, I also learnt to appreciate the sheer beauty of old Burma Teak, Rosewood and Padauk wood, the colours, texture, grains that indicated its maturity, I could go on. Once the essentials had been done, I had the opportunity to work with wood and create items of beauty and utility.
A Cottage Industry in my Garage!
Apple we have always been told started in a garage, one belonging to Steve Jobs’ parents. Well, “Maram” (meaning wood in Tamil) started in our garage too. I found myself designing a range of items, which our accomplished senior carpenter could execute with elan.
Trays for special occasions! Handcrafted and inlayed with gorgeous Kanjeevaram, Benares, Rattan & Ancient Palm Leaf, each one is a collectible
Coasters for distinguished guests! Handcrafted and inlayed with gorgeous Kanjeevaram, Benares, Rattan
Book-ends: Heritage teak embellished- Marapachi to Buddha, Bastar to Dogra, a range of unique embellishments
Cutlery Holders: In Teak & Padauk, embellished with rope and guitar strings! Yes we have our avant-garde moments!
In the beginning, our own enterprise was my in-house customer acquiring a few pieces for distinguished visiting professors and others. When I started talking about Maram on social media, I found people getting interested. My first sale was to a social media friend whom I had never met in person; not only did he take the trouble of dropping in to see the collection I had curated and stored at home, he bought on the spot a substantial number of pieces and gave me a wonderful opportunity, to design for the puja in his new home a Shiva Lingam & Aavudaiyar, in line with what I had done for our own home. Acquiring the spatika (crystal) lingam from Kashmir via a Delhi dealer, working with a Chennai based sculptor to execute the Avudayar with Nandi (the celestial bull) incorporated, as also a water spout for the abishekam offerings to exit, was both a divine and inspiring experience. Here’s what Mr. R of Bengaluru had to say when Lord Shiva reached his home for installation “Hello Gayathri! I can’t thank you enough for your help, support and patience in ensuring Lord Shiva’s birth and transit to my home. All the good from this will be yours!!! God bless you and your loved ones”.
Udhbava & Popping UP!
I had christened my home-grown enterprise as Udhbava a Sanskrit word that I loved, meaning “origin”. I felt Udhbava was most appropriate as we were working with the essentials of the home – wood, fabric, metal, paper, found items, to create a beautiful melange with utility and purpose. Having sold a few pieces, I was inspired to approach the renowned Kiran Rao of Amethyst, a Chennai institution that I adore, one that encourages culture and cuisine. Kiran was not only optimistic about my work, she kindly offered me a pop-up in her “Amethyst on Chamiers” store. Working with her team to formalise my home-grown inventory, barcode items, identify and correct minor flaws, safely transport them, were all a huge learning experience. Being displayed in such an iconic location in my own city gave me “quite the high”. Every time a sale happened I wondered who had bought the item; every time a friend or family member messaged me, having spotted our pop-up, I was both gratified and inspired. The experience gave me the confidence that what I was curating and creating had an audience.
In the meantime I had started work on handcrafted multi-media panels that would embellish the home. These bring together heritage wood, stone, textile, glass & rattan to create beauty & utility both as wall panels for the living room and prayer space, but also as larger multimedia partitions that cordon off spaces at home, for example the dining area or prayers space in an open plan home.
Udhbava- The Museum Studio!
An Apple service centre close to our workspace, moved, giving me the idea that the space could become my dream Museum Studio. I was fortunate that the owners, a Trust of some repute, saw my work as befitting a long lease. Working with an interior team, up-cycling a number of old items (60 year old fans, old teak heirloom furniture from the family, an ancient radiogram given to my mother-in-law by her family, bric a brac items), blending them with functional modernity, glass display cases and a window for the store front, we managed to create an aesthetically pleasing studio when I could not only display and sell my creations, but one where I could help others bring their own handicraft, furniture and interior dreams into reality. Opening one’s own studio, a stand-alone niche business is quite nerve racking. My entire family has stood by me in this journey, pitching in with ideas and investment, giving me the inspiration to succeed.
Udhbava with a Minimal Cafe and Art-Deco Lounge, also strives to preserve our rich culture, heritage and traditions; encourage personalised artistry and storytelling through art. I don’t see us a a studio alone, rather as an inspirational space that will create and curate beauty. After all, in the words of John Keats..
“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases… ”
Here are a few initial impressions from Udhbava- The Museum Studio!
“It is a very interesting concept. You have put it together elegantly. Wish you all success. Thank you for inviting me and for the gift of coasters which I will use well!” Mrs. Sheela Balaji, Chairperson, Aim for Seva, who inaugurated the studio by lighting and floating a candle in a traditional Uruli with water and flowers, bringing in elements..
“We had a look around the Studio, and absolutely love it. Wishing you a fantastic opening event” Jenitanya, Artist who executed my concept of painted Nutmeg Box as a centre table for our cafe
“Very glad I decided to come and visit your store today- absolutely love how you have put different mediums together”. Aparna Vijaykumar a new young friend who clearly has much in common
“Our student Gayathri Krishnamoorthy has started Udhbava-The Museum Studio”. She always thinks as a very creative and artistic person. She is my senior student in my teaching career who learnt art from me in 2012. This studio has handcrafts made in mixed media along with traditional collections and a mini cafe. She plans to hold many art programs here. Please visit this studio- you will surely love this environment.” Ruban Jose a Senior Art Teacher who taught me how to paint with mixed media
Going Creatively Solo!
Hitherto I have always worked with teams, even small ones. I have always had the support of co-founders and dedicated staff. As I set up my own venture, I am blessed to continue to have the advice and support of many people, family, friends and those I have worked with or continue to work with. However, I find myself learning to do many things on my own, from managing inventory, acquiring items and materials, getting WiFi and computer systems going, making our first small meals as a cafe, speaking with De Novo visitors, people I have never met. Going creatively solo is becoming my new normal!
