Viya’s everyday objects – The Hindu

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Vikram Goyal has always been synonymous with statement pieces, from console tables to brass triptychs. Major works are showcases of craftsmanship, design and engineering skill. Over the years he developed techniques such as repousage and metal casting, pushing him to explore the technical limits of his designs.

Now lifestyle brand Viya has expanded to include a range of homewares priced above ₹5,000 such as candle holders and trays, bar cabinets and vases; Perfect for souvenirs and holiday gifts. “Actually, during the COVID-19 period or after publishing my book, I started exploring India a little more. Shringara of Shrinathji (in Indian miniature paintings). In subsequent Zoom calls and interviews to discuss this book, I discovered that even in India there is a huge hunger and lack of knowledge about our own history regarding the craft. So I thought why not make an Indian craft brand that is completely craft-based.” While Goyal will continue to produce collectible design pieces and undertake interior projects under the Vikram Goyal Studio brand, Viya will also offer everyday objects that “bring joy to the home.”

Some with names like Coonoor Table Lamp and Leophant Trinket Box are like jewels and all celebrate nature and different cultures. Don’t miss the Tutti Frutti Ship, inspired by Cartier’s quirky Tutti Frutti jewellery. Besides metal, the brand also works with various materials such as bamboo or rope, reed or cotton. It’s no surprise that the designs are inspired by India, and Goyal adds: “Every product is inspired by something about India, its people, its culture. Be it a myth, a fairy tale, the animals of India, the flowers of India, or the ‘India’.” “It could be anything related to.”

The final product, such as the agate-topped side table or the bent bamboo crib, combines craft and design. Each would be at home in a farmhouse in Alibaug or a loft in Miami. Goyal was the first Indian designer to exhibit at the Nilufar Gallery in Milan. He understands what the modern consumer wants, but admits that designing for the brand was “very difficult in the beginning, but now I can’t get enough of it.” “When you work with new material, you take some time to sample and understand the limitations and strengths of that material,” he explains. It got easier as he understood the material, and he said: “It was challenging at first, but now that we’ve gotten the hang of it, within two years we’re inundated with new products every day.”

With over twenty years of experience, he brings this experience and meticulousness to the new collection. “There’s a lot of knowledge about engineering and science, working with metal, that comes from the studio and we bought into that,” he notes. Given its experimental nature and desire to push materials into new forms of expression, “all these products require a lot of engineering and a lot of experimentation before we get to the right conclusion,” he says.

As Indians have become increasingly proud over the last few years, there is also a sense that the time is right. “People are becoming very selective and worldly about the way they entertain themselves, the way they organize their spaces and the way they give gifts,” Goyal points out. For this purpose, Viya’s products appeal to architects and interior designers who want to buy a house. The country’s growing souvenir market will also find a variety of options that can add an element of Indian craftsmanship to their homes.

The author lives in Mumbai.