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These days, many creators draw inspiration from traditional Indian crafts, putting a contemporary spin on our customary arts to pay homage to our culture. From streetwear lines using historical textile techniques to musicians sampling folk styles in their pop tunes, we’ve covered countless innovative artists repurposing Indian culture for modern audiences.
After having discovered such a wide range of incredible Indian brands, I was surprised by how taken I was when I came across the ceramics studio Vivikoh on Instagram. As I scrolled through the studio’s vast catalogue, I found myself obsessed with their quirky style.
They have mugs that emulate the bust of a woman wearing a saree, ashtrays made to look like matchboxes, textile-inspired decorative guns ablaze, and more; run by artist Vivitsa Kohli, Vivikoh’s wide range of ceramic works are whimsical additions to any home. As wonderful as it is to see artists reference India’s ancient beauty, watching a creator utilise the sheer fun that exists within our culture is a breath of fresh air.
While some of Vivikoh’s pieces take on a more classical aesthetic, they never take a conventional approach. Their block print ceramic pieces, for instance, take inspiration from Indian fabric printing techniques, but instead of just recreating textile patterns onto basic dishware, they look crumpled to mimic the movement of cloth. Each of their pieces is meticulously handprinted and crafted with immense care from conceptualisation to finalisation.
Another refreshing aspect of Vivikoh’s branding is its openness to its audience. Kohli offers us enlightening behind-the-scenes looks into the studio’s day-to-day work processes, shedding light on the difficulties of working with a medium as fickle as ceramics.
Pottery is a multi-layered process involving sourcing raw materials, understanding kiln temperatures, and of course, technical crafting skills. In one video, she shows us how factors out of their control like weather changes can lead to the loss of weeks of work, stating “pottery isn’t that meditative when you make money off it.”
In another, Kohli describes the difficulties of creating for small value orders when commissioners don’t understand craft-specific limitations. This honesty is not only insightful, but crucial for how consumers interact with small business-owners. Therein, Vivikoh isn’t just progressive for its innovative works, but also for its artisan-empowering ethos.
Follow Viviooh on Instagram here, and order their pieces here.
