Step in and a tinkling bell welcomes you into Eka. You are instantly reminded that there is something distinctly Asian, or to be precise, Indian inside the store. You realize you are right as you look around to find bronze statures of Indian figurines, bells, lamps, some more decorative odd and ends, richly carved traditional furniture, among other desi stuff including clothes and accessories.
But this time, Eka has a new collection to add to its store called ‘Poetry in Wood’, which it describes as ‘exquisite wall art using exotic natural wood sourced from around the world’. These paintings are created by pasting layers of wood to create a 3-D effect.
First, the piece of art is intricately designed. Then, a laser beam is applied to each of the design components on various different pieces of wood chosen for their colour and texture. Finally, each piece is layered onto a base, creating the 3-D effect.
“This is an expression of Indian art through new media. It is about using technology -- digital imaging and crafting to create traditional art.” says Kimiko, head of Eka.
These paintings are totally devoid of paint and employ only the natural colour of wood. The collection of paintings represents themes ranging from divinity and Indian flower motifs to traditional Indian animal motifs and Mughal architecture, among others.
These paintings, Kimaya feels, are also ideal gift options as they combine Indian art with contemporary expression and they come with well-crafted gift boxes that need no wrapping.
The art pieces come in various sizes, with the largest being a 32-inch portrait of the mythological Indian lovers Radha and Krishna. This painting is made using over 300 pieces of wood.
‘Poetry in Wood’ can adorn your walls for a price range between Rs 995 (for an 8-inch frame) and Rs 25000 (for a 32-inch frame).
The paintings are display till 19th June 2011 at Eka, 19 Gangadhar Chetty Road, near Ulsoor Lake. Call 25544371, 25540876 or 9845477648. Open all days 10am to 8pm.
