Giving it a whorl

After spending two decades working in various fields, Anoo Kulkarni decided to opt for making handcrafted lamps that would light up lives and homes

How were you drawn to design?

AK: I am self-taught and have no formal education in woodworking or design. I inherited a love for craft from my mother, and I think my interest in design evolved from some of my favourite childhood activities. Summer holidays were always filled with fun craft projects using odds and ends from around the house, such as old socks, shoe boxes, and candy wrappers. These projects introduced me to lateral thinking, problem-solving and upcycling. I became comfortable working with different materials and learned how to plan and progress step by step, from finding the required materials to making the finished piece, all by myself.

What is your favourite material to work with?

AK: Initially I experimented with pine, beech and rubber wood, but after my first attempt with teak it became my material of choice.I love its natural golden-brown, which needs no staining or polishing. Teak is a pleasure to work with when it comes to joinery; it is very stable in terms of wood movement, and has a natural resistance to wood pests. When sanded and finished, itpresents a stunning surface with rich grain patterns, natural variations in tone, beautiful knots and whorls.

How do you market and distribute your products in India, and globally?

AK: My market is currently limited to Bengaluru though I hope to cater to requests from other cities soon. I have a simple website that showcases my work (no online sales) and an Instagram page, which has seena gradual, organic growth in the number of followers.

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