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 bowlimage © 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

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.

asia now exhibition (30)