Ameya Narvankar's profile

Eternal Kashi // Vimaanas

A celebration of all things beautiful,
Good Earth is India’s leading lifestyle and luxury decor brand.
As a part of my internship programme,
I had the delightful opportunity to work with the Mumbai design team 
on conceptualising and visualising merchandising ideas for their
Eternal Kashi design collection (2015-2016).

My primary task was to design two installations -
an air-borne mobile structure to be strung in the atrium of the flagship store 
as well as a window display,
both revolving around the mystical city of Kashi (Benares) & its cultural confluence.
 
The visuals and designs for the Eternal Kashi Collection are protected by ©Goodearth.
Vimaanas - Celestial Swan Chariots
 
Ideas and sketches for the hanging mobile installation. The form was inspired by the vimaanas (flying chariots) with devas (gods) seated in them
showering the mortals of Benares with their celestial blessings.
To bring forth the idea of cultural confluence it required an Islamic design element which was fulfilled
by the addition of jaalis in the cartouche shape of the chariot body.
The detailed celestial chariots from pichwais (wall hangings) were simplified to their minimal forms.
The structure would be made of two frames with an Islamic jaali pattern sandwiched in-between, for ease of production and assembly.
The prototype was made with MDF, and golden trinkets and hangings were suspended from it.
The concept was translated to reality by Meghna Gandhi and her production design team. ©Goodearth
The chariot frames were crafted in wood and sported a distressed look with a golden finish. ©Goodearth
The designs for the jaalis ranged from simple to slightly more complex, from Indian motifs to more geometric forms. ©Goodearth
The frames were suspended in the middle of the atrium in the Good Earth Flagship Store in Mumbai.
Floral hangings with golden trinkets were attached to the chariots to symbolise the shower of blessings. ©Goodearth
Eternal Kashi // Vimaanas
Published:

Eternal Kashi // Vimaanas

Concept and visualisation of the 'vimaanas-flying swan chariots' installation for Good Earth India.

Published: