mann singh at asia now - india

indian designer mann singh exhibited his 'kachnar bowl' (produced in limited edition for
the italian manufacturer driade) and his most recent work, a prototype of the 'phul' chair
in designboom's 'asia now' exhibition at dwell on design in los angeles.


'phul' chair
image © designboom

stainless steel is more commonly used with industrial processes, mann singh uses the hand-made
process for his prototypes.




image © designboom



detail of 'phul' chair
image © designboom

the brass sheet which you get along the edges are smoothened down with the mallet and the hammer.
he likes the texture of these pleats, what happens often is that one tries to leave things a little
unfinished to distinguish hand made from machine made.


mann singh sitting on 'phul' chair

each 'phul' chair is hand-made from cast stainless steel, with no two pieces alike.
the seat and back are constructed from an intertwining leaf and twig motif.





kachnar bowl
image © designboom


mann singh's 'kachnar' series for driade's shalemar collection consists of silvered baskets
of interwoven twigs, and bowls composed of stiffened leaves and flowers.



detail of kachnar bowl
image © designboom

'kachnar' bowls



detail of kachnar bowl

mann's pieces started from observing the beauty of natural branches and petals.
this model was made from copper tubing brazed together; and though it looks pretty
organic it is completely calculated and to be made with standard size tubes.

the welding process is completed entirely by hand.



'muqarna' bowl

'muqarna' bowls





'asia now' exhibition
image © designboom


designboom's 'asia now' exhibition explored design culture in asia, centering around the work of
young rising talent, in the context of its rapidly changing environment. the over 60 meters show
covered 11 countries and took viewers on a visual journey through history and contemporary art and
design solutions of the orient.



installation view of the 'asia now' exhibition
image © designboom





installation view
image © designboom



image © designboom