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Chairs Tell India's Story: From Invasions to Art
14 Mar
Summary
- Over 200 chairs showcased India's cultural history chronologically.
- Furniture designs reveal influences of Dutch, Portuguese, French, and British invasions.
- Exhibition featured restored chairs, including a Le Corbusier lounge chair.
An exhibition in Mumbai, "A History of India through Chairs," showcased over 200 chairs to narrate India's cultural and historical journey. Organized by the House of Mahendra Doshi, the display featured chairs collected over decades by Anand Gandhi and Chiki Doshi, arranged to trace seating traditions from pre-colonial to contemporary eras.
The exhibition's designs illuminated the impact of 16th to 19th-century colonial invasions by the Dutch, Portuguese, French, and British. These foreign powers introduced their furniture styles and commissioned local artisans to replicate European designs, resulting in a unique fusion of Indian and Western aesthetics visible in the chairs. Many pieces, often found in disrepair, were painstakingly restored by skilled craftsmen, a process that can take months.
Notable items included a unique bead-covered chair from Gujarat, which required eight months of restoration, and a rare lounge chair designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier. The exhibition also highlighted the rich tradition of Indian woodworking and the use of high-quality hardwoods like teak and rosewood.
