‘Inspired by India’ courtesy Sotheby’s

Sotheby's London is set to host an ambitious selling exhibition of contemporary design, ‘Inspired by India’. The event features jewelry, textiles, ceramics, furniture and photography by established creators like Alice Cicolini, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Rahul Kumar apart from up-and-coming artists like Els Woldhek and Pia Wustenberg, all inspired by the culture, colors and crafts of India.

• The selling exhibition features a unique collection of shawls by Christina Kim, of the iconic fashion brand Dosa. For more than two decades she has researched artisan-made materials and traditions.
• Pioneering textile designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s stunning wedding saris, and a range of specially commissioned shawls and headbands will also be showcased.
• Alice Cicolini’s distinctive jewelry enameled in Jaipur by one of the last remaining master enamellers, and set with precious and semi-precious stones is being offered for sale.
• Wrap, India's first contemporary luxury design company, which takes its name from the ancient 'wrapping technique' used to make royal thrones in 17th Century Jaipur, is showing stunning wood furniture wrapped in gold and silver.
• Delhi-based potter Rahul Kumar has made a unique series of pots for "Inspired by India", all in red clay. The show also features Milan-based Luisa Cevese's exclusive bags and table accessories incorporating sari fabrics sourced from rural villages.
• Photographer Gita Pandit’s often humorous observations of contemporary Indian life are being offered alongside a wonderful collection of vintage Bollywood film posters from Indian Hippy Mumbai.
• Their works together demonstrate how traditional Indian skills can be incorporated into lively, contemporary work full of excitement and surprise. 

Curated by Janice Blackburn, ‘Inspired by India’ takes place between 8 May and 15 May 2012. Commenting on the event, the curator states, "Crafts that we associate with India like weaving, embroidery, metal work, enameling etc are all sadly disappearing. The only way to preserve these techniques is to move them forward with well-designed products that combine traditional skills in a contemporary way without sacrificing their historical context.”