Evolution of the chair at Kochi-Muziris Biennale

For the Indian society that sat, ate and socialised on the floor prior to the European settlement in the country, elevated seating was considered a symbol of power.
Since Vasco da Gama anchored off the Kochi coast, the humble chair has undergone multiple transformations through its colonial history.
Contemporary design artist Gunjan Gupta will trace the evolution of the Indian chair in a new exhibition titled "Kissa Kursi Ka" at the upcoming Kochi-Muziris Biennale scheduled to begin from December 12.
She uses objects that were used for sitting in India before the "apparition of the chair came in the 15th century" and piles them up to build the four-legged piece of furniture.

"There is much debate about defining Indian design in the 21st century and endless discussion on the pathos and potential of 'Made in India' in relation to craft and industry going forward.
"I continue to seek to explore the boundaries of craft and design where master craft practices and street side jugaad sit elegantly next to each other against conceptual luxury," Gupta says.

The show, a manifestation of Gupta's decade-long journey of exploration of India's furniture design history, will chronicle the chair's journey, beginning with its earliest 'yogic posture' to the modern-day designs.
The exhibition will have on display 'The Dining Throne', which is the first chair designed by Gupta in 2006 as well as a handcrafted gold and silver throne to represent the lost tradition of throne decoration.

To provide a contrary prespective to this 'lost heritage of crafts', the designer will showcase the 'The Bicycle Throne Series' through an appropriation of discarded elements that belong to everyday life.
The artist, who has collaborated with Indian craftsmen and manufacturers for the event, will showcase the paradoxes in the Indian design processes.
'The Bori Sofa' will "playfully subvert" the phrase 'Couch Potato' into a textured installation of jute sacks stuffed with foam potatoes that are "deceptively comfortable".
The collection will also have 'The Do Not Handle with Care Matka Mix' handcrafted in stone that will appear to play with the "notion of fragility and alter the utility of the mundane form".

In another of her chairs, Gupta has rolled the staple Indian mattress to make the 'The Gadda Chair' and juxtaposed it with a colonial cane chair to manufacture, what she calls 'The Floating Gadda Chair'.
The exhibition has been curated by Yoichi Nakamuta, an independent editor and producer of art and design.
It will be held at Heritage Arts in Fort Kochi - the beautiful warehouse showroom that deals in antiques and reproductions of colonial furniture from India.