Choosing artwork for your home that makes it stand out
Much beyond our personal needs, we tend to fill our homes with things that define our personality. Styling spaces is a lot about self-expression, something that comes naturally to us in childhood through wall posters and knick-knacks—and follows us well into adulthood. The idea behind adding artwork to a space is to enrich it and instill a feeling of belonging. For that reason, a poster from a flea market can give one as much happiness as a masterpiece by S.H. Raza.
The ideal situation would be to start with a striking piece of art and craft the rest of the home interior around it. However, having invested heavily in customised furniture, art is not usually something a significant budget would be reserved for. Decorating a wall with a series of small works of art instead of a single imposing artwork is one of the ways to work around this constraint.
One can start with identifying the dimensions of the available space to be dedicated to art, With the next step being gauging the mood of the space and the complete house interior scheme. The art can be personal—memorabilia from travels, inspiring picks from art exhibitions, artefacts to represent one’s roots and family portraits. Artists can explore portraits through photography as well as various art forms. Wherever a certain amount of luxury is required to tie the room together, frequent visits to art galleries and exhibitions can go a long way. If the budget doesn’t allow for an original, the artist can consent to a sanctioned serigraph that isn’t too heavy on one’s pocket.
Modern home decor trends have also popularised or brought back art that explores various forms of Indian crafts. At Mangrove, we love experimenting with folk art. Our efforts in each project are to respond to the context, illustrate the flavours of the traditional art of a particular region. Contemporary interpretations of folk art forms like Pattachitra, Gond Art, Madhubani or Pichhwai are a great way to set off modern interiors. For one of the homes we outfitted and styled in New Delhi, Chamba Rumals in subtle colours were chosen to balance a contemporary palette. The living room features screens by Flora For Fauna Studio with embroidered organza to bring a layered, floral touch.
A few things to keep in mind while shortlisting artworks is to bring in some layers and three -dimensional elements that bring contrast. Places like Dilli Haat, Surajkund Crafts Mela, Nature Bazaar, Dastkar or other flea markets offer great choices when it comes to pocket – friendly art. Finally, while finding the artwork a suit able location, one must place it at eye level. This helps it contribute the most to the experience of the space, as well as establish visual play. Using surfaces other than walls adds dynamism, like using a console to layer three or four pieces. Even a carpet can become a beautiful piece of art. The aim is to create a warm, lived-in feeling: to belong to the art just as the art belongs to us.
