“Your world can end in the blink of an eye. One event, one unexpected twist of fate… and suddenly the world as you knew it… is gone. Forever. All that you held dear, all that you held close… is washed away in a sea of distant memory. Life… is cruel. Of this, I have no doubt. But life continues on… with, or without you. One can only hope that one leaves behind a lasting legacy. But so often, the legacies we leave behind… are not the ones we intended.” — Queen Myrrah in Gears of War. I love this dialogue the first time I heard it from my son. This is towards the end of Gears of War 2, an X-box game that he plays. It has so much depth, and in many ways, resonates with my life the past few months. The dreamy picture above is from a beautiful…
The second half of every year is special because after a dry spell of no holidays during the summer and monsoon months, we get an overdose starting September. The true spirit of the season kicks in with Ganesh Chaturthi followed by Navratri, Diwali and Christmas. This year is no different. Ganesh Chaturthi falls right in the middle of the week, on Wednesday. Huge, tall colorful Ganeshas arrived by the roadside a week earlier complementing baskets and baskets of yellow and orange marigolds lining up the streets. This is what I love about India – the sights and sounds are far from being monochromatic and a reminder that life is a celebration. If there’s no chaos, how much fun can it be.
Every year, it’s the mann pulayar (made of mud) who comes home for the festival but he is there in other forms throughout the year – from glass murals and brass to a huge carved sleeping ganesha. If you’ve been wondering where you can see and get a finely painted ganapati on glass or an exquisitely carved one, look no further than Eka.
This post is about Eka – a store that is famous for its Ganeshas. For a decade, I’ve been mesmerised about the terrific variety on display at the store around this time of the year. Name it – color, form, size and you’re sure to find it. Here are snippets of my conversation with Eka’s owner – the lovely Kimiko. And yes, ready for a store tour?
1. What does Eka mean and when did the store open? How has it grown over the years? How did the idea to open the store come about?
EKA originates from the Sanskrit word EKAM meaning singular or one of a kind. In keeping with our name, we strive to bring forth products that are singular or unique in nature. From a very humble beginning in April 2000 when we first opened our doors, Eka has come a long way. We are now among the leading lifestyle stores in Bangalore and have infact been featured among the top 60 small stores of the world.
2. I understand Ganesha is a special time of the year at Eka. How did the idea come about for your first exhibition?
My husband Kenneth Menzies is a Ganesha aficionado and has an enviable collection of Ganeshas. When we started Eka, we were determined to bring to Bangalore the most fabulous Ganeshas from all over the country. Thus the idea of “Celebrating Ganesha” – our annual tribute to the God of all things came about. Eka has hosted this promotion every year since 2000, and our collection has become more exquisite and varied over the years.
3. Where do you source your products from (inhouse or otherwise)? Any specially proud stories to share with the readers?
Eka is proudly Indian. All our products are locally handcrafted from natural materials and sourced directly from traditional artisans, NGOs engaged in preserving Indian art forms or select export manufacturers who custom craft products to our designs and specifications. Which is why, many of our products are exclusive to Eka. And all of them have stories to tell. Stories that truly reflect India’s heritage of art, craft and culture.We support our artisans and craftsmen with design intervention and process improvement inputs to upgrade their native skills. At Eka, we are committed to bringing forth unique, high quality and design rich products at value prices. Products that both preserve and interpret traditional and tribal crafts in a contemporary context so as to enrich global lifestyles.
Eka is proud to be included among the 60 most exciting and successful new small stores handpicked from around the world and from all retail sectors to be featured in the book Retail Spaces – Small Stores under 250 sq. mtr by Judy Shepard and the editors of Retail Design International published by RSD Publishing, Inc.NY
Is there anyone here who lives in Indira Nagar? There’s a reason I love the place : it’s a powerhouse of creative people who make lovely pottery and murals that makes you stop and take notice. Madhu Chandrika, an alumnus of Chitra Kala Parishath, is one such artistic lady – the person behind Earthen Symphony.
Earthen Symphony is hidden away from the much-happening 100 ft. road, though not quite far from it. It’s another sad story that beautiful bungalows and single shops on 100 ft. road have given way to swanky global retail brands like Guess.
The store stocks a impressive collection of pottery, lamps, storage boxes, Ganeshas, shades, mirrors, furniture and glass top stools. Prices range from Rs.350 for small pots and go all the way up to 40,000 for large mural installations. The wall pieces are available from Rs.1,100.
What impresses me in such stores is that the owner has an interesting story behind every piece. And it’s hard to miss the positive energy and passion of the person flowing through. All pieces are handmade at her workshop in Banaswadi.
I kept staring at every pot, clicking pictures from different angles and felt it over and over for its texture. Images of Confluence keep flashing in my mind when I see these murals. Shades or orange, brown and red are favorites among potters. But what sets Earthen Symphony apart is a whole range of things you can gift someone or deck up your home with. I didn’t see any nameplates in particular but I’m sure you can get it custom made.
Did you notice the Ganesha mural and the black and white pot?
Hope you all had a good long weekend. “dress your home” turned 1 on July 1st; so we’re officially a year-old now, and I’m taking small baby steps in growing this blog. I’ve decided to continue with the store tours as it gives me immense satisfaction to sift through dozens of home decor stores, decide which one fits in with my philosophy of serving a purpose, finally followed by the actual visit. Last Saturday, I went to Namma Angadi which means “Our shop” in Kannada. Located in LB Shastri Nagar off Vimanapura, it’s a non-assuming, stone-walled building in a neighborhood most of us never would have a reason to go to. Anjula and Girish were quite helpful in helping me navigate down the narrow, winding roads from Old airport road to Namma Angadi. Namma Angadi is a marketing platform for traditional arts and crafts made by young workers in Kundapura,…
So, shall we get started? The first in the Store Tour series is “Confluence” art store on the Jeevan Bhima Nagar main road. For folks who’ve been living in and around Indira Nagar with a slight inclination towards home decor, I’m sure you would’ve noticed this store next to Ek Bote furniture showroom. But, may be you’ve never stepped inside.
I know you are waiting to drool over the images. But, hold on. A little bit about the store owner first.
Parul Saraff, a trained interior designer from South Delhi Polytechnic for Women, started Confluence in 2000. After getting married in 2000, she moved from Delhi to Bangalore. It’s been 10 years since. Parul beams when she says she manages two babies now: her two-and-half year old daughter and Confluence.
I was intrigued by the name Confluence for which Parul said, the store doesn’t confine itself to any one art like Worli, glass or Tanjore painting. Since the store houses all kinds of art and she mixes a bit of everything in her creations, she felt there couldn’t be a better name than Confluence.
This will be a two part series with tomorrow’s post being exclusively about murals.
You get a taste of what to expect inside from the decor outside the store.
What does the store sell:
Shall we step inside now? Confluence takes custom orders for name boards, murals, gift items, pottery and paintings. The theme for Muralsvary from traditional and tribal settings to abstract and kids-based cartoon characters.
I want to continue where I left off my last post on styling ideas for apartment main doors. The featured shop stcks many hand-crafted, woven assorted items such as baithaks, mirrors, trays and cushion covers.
They are colorful, vibrant and lively almost resonating with positive energy. There is something rustic about them which makes for great accessories.
I loved this wooden, wrought-iron bench. Some day when we have larger garden, this one’s gonna find a place in the patio.
