(above) Mann Singh with his 'phul' chair. Image courtesy of designboom

Mann Singh's Indian culture is thoroughly embedded in his designs. By using traditional Indian craft methods in his practice, his design pieces are an amalgamation of his contemporary design aesthetic, the physical properties of materials and the methods and experience of the craftspeople he works with. The Italian company Driade recognised Mann Singh's talent for "showing us a different world of non-globalized design" and commissioned a series of bowls as part of their collection. To create the bowls, Singh has used decoration as a structural element, which is a recurring theme in his work, to create "silvered baskets like interwoven branches, bowls made of stiffened leaves to be raised in the palms of one’s hands in sacred gestures and tree-like candleholders" (ref:driade). Mann Singh recently shared with us some thoughts on design from his studio in India. Enjoy our interview below.

(above) Chitai bowl for Driade

What is it that you enjoy most about design?
What I enjoy most about design is the experimentation and the learning. Most of my work is based on making trials and working with material. Material and the processes of working with them are really fascinating. In that sense one works from within taking into account the characteristics of the material one is involved with and the logic of the process. In experimentation one finds certain notions to push forward. Also exciting are the ups and downs of the design process i.e the elation of solving the difficulties one encounters when developing something new. One has to find a way, hence the ups and downs of elation and dejection. When one finally achieves the result which feels right, its the best feeling in the world. To design only on paper and have someone else figure out the making would be just too boring. It's great fun to learn from the people I work with and it's fun when there are joint discoveries.

(above) Kachnar I bowl for Driade

A lot of your pieces reference traditional Indian decorative elements and techniques. How has India’s culture of decoration and craftsmanship become embedded in your work?
More than referencing traditional Indian design elements I think my work is more about using traditional craft methods. I think the process of working with craftspeople influences the final outcome of the products. My work is not about the imposition of my will but of assimilation of practices, so its complex considering its very difficult to pin down tradition. Its a slippery slope. The products are the children of the successes and failures one encounters along the way. The final outcomes are not entirely predetermined. I am very interested in the idea of developing products based on praxis. It's only by studying what we do and how we do them can we develop products which are appropriate. It also keeps the designs contextual and in some cases can influence how we do things. Take the practice of drinking water. Many people drink out of a glass and many people prefer not to let the vessel touch their lips. So practices and experiences- or rather the creation of an experience guide the development of products. As regards decoration, I regard it as a natural human tendency and not something specifically Indian. What I try and do is use decoration as a structural element. In my chair for instance the leaves form the seat and back of the chair and are not applied to another surface. Without the decoration there would be no chair. The influences and references are myriad.

(above) Kachnar II bowl for Driade

Can you tell us a little about the contemporary design scene in India?
The contemporary design scene in India is still at a nascent stage and the trajectories which individual designers are following are quite different from each other. There is not enough discussion happening about the practice and industry still largely thinks of design as something used to "sex things up". There are a few individuals doing some exceptional work and I do not consider myself amongst them. Design is one of the most abused terms being bandied about. India has a huge population and faces a lot of challenges as does the world with the environment and the wellbeing of the people. But for any success to be achieved effective models of design practice have to be developed. The models seen in the developed world aren't going to work and we need to wise up.

(above) Kachnar III bowl for Driade

What inspires you?
Seeing people do things that I'm afraid of is really inspiring.

Who has influenced you?
I was very heavily influenced by my teachers MP Ranjan, Gajanan Upadhayaya and Aditi Ranjan and peers and at some point I revolted. I think the doing of the work creates its own influences. One is very often influenced by the work one has done and by extension the people one has worked with. The small influences all add up. There are a lot of designers whose work I really admire but since I never met them I don't know if they influenced me. When we were studying my entire class of 4 students was in thrall of one of our own classmates Longri Temjen Namo.

(above) Muqarna bowl for Driade

What have been your most rewarding achievements?
My work developing bamboo furniture as a student has been my most rewarding experience. That particular project is when it all came together for me.

(above) Shamadan for Driade

What’s next?
That's whats most exciting. I don't really know whats next. Good opportunities show up unexpected and the surprise is super good. I look forward to whats next.

(above) 'Phul' chair and detail. Image courtesy of designboom

How do you want your work to be remembered?
I have never thought about it. I don't know about work but I definitely want to be remembered in a happy way.

Mann Made is Singh's blog, where is you learn more about his work and design process.
You can also see coverage of his work as exhibited at the 2010 Asia Now exhibition courtesy of designboom.

Posted by Lauren Evans