Talking to the Anomalies

Talking to the Anomalies: Rajvi Mehta from Studio Rajvi Mehta

Rajvi spent five years at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad [http://www.nid.edu/], and graduated with a degree in textile design. During the time, she had the opportunity to spend four months at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs [https://www.ensad.fr/en] studying Apparel Design, and another two, interning at Abraham and Thakore, New Delhi [https://www.abrahamandthakore.com/].  In 2013, she concluded her degree, and moved to Mumbai. At Textrade International Ltd, [https://textradeinternational.com/] she worked on various projects, especially home linen collections for export. In 2014, she joined Wari Watai [https://wariwatai.in/], Bangalore, as a Senior Textile Designer for the Lab Nilaya [https://www.asianpaints.com/products/wall-coverings.html] project by Asian Paints Ltd. The projects here ranged from designing wallpaper collections and wall decals to research and assisting interior styling for products. This involved planning, presentation, supervision of production and story telling, apart from working closely with professionals from varied fields - interior stylists, photographers, copywriters and printers.  Apart from that, she periodically designed and produced a range of lifestyle products for the Wari Watai Store [https://wariwataistore.com/]. Towards the end of her four year tenure she did an interesting project [https://www.rajvimehta.com/project-02] using stoneware with Minim Design. [https://minimdesign.com/] It prompted her to attempt studio pottery, and learn this medium and discipline of design at Golden Bridge Pottery [https://www.raymeeker.com/index.php], Pondicherry in 2019. The rest is about her ceramic practice at Studio Rajvi Mehta [https://www.rajvimehta.com/shop] that she runs out of her home studio. She can be found on Instagram here [https://www.instagram.com/studio.rajvimehta/].  Hope you like listening to her stories! I sure loved our conversation <3

Talking to the Anomalies: Tarini Kumari from The Cobalt Company

Tarini Kumari, the artist and founder of The Cobalt Company [https://www.thecobaltcompany.in/] sat down in our maiden episode to talk to us about her journey from attending art school at 7 to now running a brand based on cyanotype prints!  The Cobalt Company is eponymous of Jodhpur in hue and spirit, specialising in everything cyanotype! An old photographic printing technique discovered in 1842 that produces blueprints. Their unique collection of artwork is a result of extensive experimentation and exploration combining Cyanotype with various mediums like photography and fine art. Tarini uses it to make original photographs of Jodhpur and other architectural or natural landscapes taken during her travels. The Cobalt Company also makes cyanotype fabric products like bags and wall hangings. I bought a gorgeous tapestry from her collection to gift to a friend and the colours were oh so yummy!  Hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed recording it.  Over to you, Tarini!