For homegrown architect Ronak Hingarh, space, form and materiality become the language through which he crafts stories that evoke awe, balance, and a quiet reverence for the rhythms of the natural world. At the helm of Ronak Hingarh Design Studio [RH(a+d)], his practice moves beyond conventional architecture, embracing an immersive, multidisciplinary approach where light, texture, and movement coalesce to create deeply emotive experiences. Drawing inspiration from nature, heritage, and cultural rituals, his work is a dialogue between the ancient and the contemporary, the tangible and the ephemeral.
His latest installation, Deep Jyoti Stambh, finds a home at The Homegrown Festival — a first-of-its-kind Indian culture and lifestyle festival that brings together South Asian talent to reimagine contemporary Indian identity. Spanning two days at the historic Richardson & Cruddas in Byculla, this creative playground merges music, art, design, fashion, film, street culture, food, and more, making it an ideal setting for Ronak’s evocative work.
Inspired by the Deepmalas — the towering, free-standing oil lamp pillars found outside Hindu temples, the Deep Jyoti Stambh is a modern reimagination of a centuries-old ritual. Traditionally, these structures were lit to dispel darkness and invite divinity, a practice steeped in both symbolism and spirituality. Ronak translates this sacred gesture into a kinetic, interactive installation that fuses architectural precision with poetic movement.
At its core, the installation is a cylindrical structure composed of modular wooden panels, designed to interlock and form a whole. These panels abstract the intricate carvings of traditional Deepmalas, offering a contemporary expression that retains their aesthetic essence. However, what sets this installation apart is its dynamic interplay with light and motion. Resting on a rotating base inspired by the Buddhist prayer wheel, Deep Jyoti Stambh is an installation that invites interaction.
As visitors spin the structure, light projected onto it is fragmented by its intricate skin, casting a hypnotic dance of shadows. This interplay mirrors the eternal battle between light and darkness, a theme that runs deep in Indian philosophy and artistic expression. The movement also adds a performative aspect to the piece where each rotation breathes life into the installation, making it a living, breathing entity rather than a static sculptural form.
Much like The Homegrown Festival itself, which is dedicated to reinterpreting cultural heritage in a modern context, Deep Jyoti Stambh is a bridge between time-honoured traditions and contemporary design sensibilities, between the sacred and the personal, between art and architecture. By breathing new life into an ancient form, Ronak not only honours the past but redefines its relevance in the present.
Follow Ronak here.
Brand Labs - Our partners and collaborators will be hosting a series of brand labs and activations over the course of the Homegrown Festival 2025. You can expect to see a whole host of exciting pop-ups from Black & White, Adidas Vibes, Tata Motors, Royal Enfield Royal Enfiled, Stone X, New Era, Fila, Heineken, and AIX.
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