Creative strokes at a celebrated contemporary artist’s home

Bose Krishnamachari’s abode is a riot of fluorescent colors beginning with the front door itself that reveals its creative owner. Fluorescent-colored bottles, pop art cushions and psychedelic oval table add a touch of quirkiness to the spacious and serene hall. This is how a news report (Artist Bose Krishnamachari’s creative strokes; The DNA India) by Marina Correa reveal his preferences.

“Anything that I buy or create must not only have a functional value but also an aesthetic element to it,” says the artist about his artistic preferences. On one of the walls hangs a Murano glass white clock in a ‘lacy’ design purchased from Singapore. A helicopter-shaped fan from Thailand follows the same principal of being functional yet aesthetic.

The house is 1,400 sq ft, and he has utilized space cleverly. For example, perforated steel sliding doors act as a great space saver and also add much to the decor — covering the kitchen, bar cabinet and the passageway to the bedroom. Stylish red flutes in the bar cabinet were picked up from Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York. “As an abstract artist these optical illusions are visually stimulating to me,” explains Bose of his fascination for psychedelic prints.

Silver leafing on the walls are as much a visual delight as they are a neutral backdrop for displaying artworks. The metallic look of the flooring comes from the Spanish tiles. The decor in the master bedroom is simple. Two paintings by Prajakta Palav hang on the silver leafed walls while a purple alcove adds a sharp contrast. Even the cupboards are silver leafed and coated with laminate to increase its longevity.

With Aaryan, 7, and Kannaki, 4, his two young children, Bose Krishnamachari wanted a child-friendly space but one which also took care of his artist leaning, and the home has successfully found this balance. That’s what he has tried to achieve by bringing into play his unique artistic sensibilities.