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For Bangalore based designer, Sandeep Sangru, it was his unconquerable passion to revive traditional timber work of Kashmir that earned him the prestige of winning SW x AD Prize for Contemporary Craftsmanship 2021.
It was the dogged determination and perseverance of two distinguished entrepreneurs, designer Sandeep Sangaru and Japanese weaver Chiaki Maki of Gangamaki who jointly forged a new life into two of the most singular kashimiri wooden craft- pinjra kari and khatamband.
It was more than just sheer fluke of luck for National School of Design Alumni, Sangaru to have found himself in Kashmir to meet Md. Ashraf Bhat, a traditional woodcarver who had been restoring old pinjra kari work in mosques—along with a team of two carpenters. Taking cue from his inspirational work Sangaru started working to create furniture with a sharp focus on pinjra kari, applying the craft to a medium never been explored before.
After working with Ashraf Bhat for 16 years and exploring the centuries old houses and mosques in the interiors of the valley, he developed bookshelves-cum-room-dividers with intricate, latticed screens and soon created geometric lampshades; currently, work is underway to create a series of prototypes for pinja kari screens, that double as sculptural installations.
Become a Premium Member to access our exclusive contents: https://authindia.com/premium-community-membership/ PinjraKari is the art of making screens of entwined wooden strips into beguiling geometric shapes. Generally utilized in components of architecture like windows,skylights partitions, balconies, and ventilators.These cross-section designs depend on Islamic geometry, where the hover gets the three essential or principal shapes or figures of Islamic geometry; the triangle, the square, and the hexagon. Generally four types of trees provide wood for this craft of Pinjrakari. These consisted of Kaiur, Budloo, and Doon Hut.
But a period of incessant conflicts made the region volatile and aggravated the fragility of traditional crafts and heritage.
Besides the advent of cheap metal flame broils, modern readymade frames, the demanding nature of craft makes it hard for craftsman to attain precision in carving Pinjkari Designs.
Cover image by Live Mint
