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Studio Kalki: A creative force of nature
Studio Kalki is an award-winning design studio based in Durban, South Africa, specializing in bespoke furniture and lighting designs with a contemporary, experience-based outlook. Artists Nikhil Tricam and Nindya Bucktowar are the creative couple behind the designs, each bringing their unique background and artistry to create something truly special.
NINDYA, THE CERAMICIST
Nindya has a background in architecture and a passion for creating beautiful ceramics. As a ceramicist, she is inspired by natural and urban landscapes, using clay to investigate the fragments of these ever-morphing ecosystems. Her sculptural works bring together familiar and unfamiliar elements of our physical world, inspiring conversations about our relationship with the landscapes we inhabit. Her work encourages us to re-investigate our relationship with the landscapes we occupy. Nindya’s ceramic range features vessels, jars, vases and planters and is available to buy in Sarza’s store and online.
NIKHIL, THE ARTIST AND ARCHITECT
Nikhil has extensive experience as an architect in hospitality and high-end residential spaces, having completed a number of lodges and villas while working as an associate at boutique firm in South Africa.
He is also an artist and has his own collection of wall art, also available at Sarza. Nikhil’s focus is on large scale ink and acrylic gestural works. His works feature elements of contemporary art, street art and abstract expressionism.
BRINGING THEIR CREATIVE TALENTS TOGETHER IN STUDIO KALKI
Nindya and Nikhil bring together their architectural and creative talents in Studio Kalki. This design house incorporates the organic qualities of handmade and hand glazed ceramics, with the industrial finesse of steelwork. The aim is to the bring individuality to your home through merging contemporary design with timeless craft.
The gorgeous Boomslang server (above) is a perfect example of their creative genius. The server blends American Red Oak, a carbon-negative and sustainably farmed hardwood, with glazed terracotta tiles to emphasize the beauty and tactile qualities of each material.
Another gorgeous Studio Kalki piece is the Dune light (below). This hand-made, wall-mounted light is made of two slabs of clay; a mother and a moon. A concentric regular pattern is carved on the surface contrasting the organic nature of the slabs. The light casts a beautiful glow on the mother slab highlighting the beauty of the undulating surface and the carvings.
EMERGING TALENT NURTURED BY THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Studio Kalki has completed work for numerous private clients in the residential and hospitality spaces, as well corporate clients including Red Bull and Nandos. They have also been featured in prestigious publications, including VISI, House & Leisure, Wallpaper and House & Garden. Studio Kalki was the winner of the 2023 Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) talent search. Hear more about the award and their inspirations in the video below:
Nindya credits their success to the amazing creative community in South Africa: “The design and art community has been incredibly supportive. I’m here because when I asked for advice or help, somebody gave us the support we needed. We didn’t get here on our own. Yes, there’s always going to be some form of competition, but it can be healthy competition. We pick up the phone to our competitors and we talk to them about the challenges that we’re dealing with in developing our supply. We have a coffee and we chat, and I think that’s so important because in South Africa, and anywhere in the world, we need to be able to empower each other and make our voices louder in the world. And you can’t do that alone.”
WHY WE LOVE STUDIO KALKI
We love to support exciting, emerging South African talent and Studio Kalki are such a great example of that. We have featured Nindya and Tricam as artists in their own right and now we are delighted to see their combined creative force in Studio Kalki. Their integration of ceramics into furniture and lighting really sets their products apart, along with the texture and tactility of the pieces.
All images courtesy of @studio.kalki