Dialogue with Wood

Vincent Roy creates conversation starters influenced by Scandinavian design.

Designer Vincent Roy from Paris has a new initiative that will make you want to splurge a bit. Wood’n Design along with partner Bidisha Samantaray, a designer herself who also runs her own line of clothing at LivingArt Lifestyles, features furniture made from recycled wood. The chairs and coffee tables draws inspiration from the 50s and 60s and from Scandinavian designs.

Roy learnt his craft in Paris from CFA De la Bonne Graine, and specialized in interior furnishing and decor. He came to India in 2008 to work with Patrick Laffourcade, a famous Cabinet Maker who restored the church Notre- Dame des Anges in Pondicherry. Later, in Australia he specialized in chair design, before spending six months in Cambodia, training a local team in interior furnishing. Now with Wood’n Design Roy hopes to bring all that he has learnt to the south. “East Asian, Indian and European cultures inspire me. And Scandinavian architecture is very light and minimal,” explains the designer who hopes to revive the Scandinavian influence on Indian furniture. “I use old beams from Tamil houses. The wood is almost 80 to 200 years old most of the time. It is dry and stable and very good for furniture and for exports,” he adds.

Taking into account the needs and requirements of the clients before creating contemporary furniture, Roy says one of his first project was furnishing Café des Artistes in Pondicherry. While the workshop is located by the Bodhi beach on Old Pattinam Road, all his products can be found in the LivingArt store in Pondicherry.

Coffee tables are priced from Rs 5,000 onwards. Details: vincent@woodndesign.in +919600820715

The Tribal Beat

Intr­­­­oducing Habitart, a new concept Boutique on SV Patel Street with objets d’art handicrafts and jewellery.

Aiming to inspire creativity among individuals, Habitart, a boutique for art and handicrafts on SV Patel Street, was conceived by a senior IT professional Rupa last month. She envisioned Habitart as a place where individuals can connect with the inner creative self. The idea slowly grew into a compelling passion and with support from close friends and relatives, she was ready to realise the vision for Habitart.

Take India home

Each piece here has been hand-picked to create an ensemble of ethnic, tribal and contemporary offerings. “The main contributors to Habitart are from remote Indian villages in West Bengal and Orissa,” explains Rupa. Habitart also stocks selected products from Auroville brands like Rangoli, Merveille, Imagination and Miniature. Thus one can find traditional art forms in the hand carved stone sculptures, distinctive dokhra crafts, folk paintings, tribal jewellery, silver filigree, hand embroidered rugs and stoles, cane and bamboo crafts, along with contemporary wood carvings, abstract statuettes made from stone plaster, silk and cotton bags, modern lampshades and an elegant line of apparel and accessories for women. The boutique also has an exclusive collection of tribal jewellery, silk and embroidered bags, “currently, we have a small section of garments for women,” states Rupa and adds that they will be expanding to cater to men and kids. It will be a fusion of ethnic and contemporary trends keeping in line the character of Habitart.

Body and Soul

Habitart is a place to appreciate objects d’art with a cup of green tea and healthy hors d’ouvres. To provide an atmosphere of serenity for the artistically-inclined, there is a Tea Bar called Food Habit with a variety of snacks and beverages. These include freshly made sandwiches (with Pineapple Feta and a vegetarian yogurt sandwich) and interesting fruit-based mocktails. “We also retail exclusive variants of green tea and white tea – the flavours including raspberry, jasmine, chamomile, apricot calendula and strawberry among others,” she adds. The mocktails here are a must: the green temptation is mix of green apple and mint while sizzling ice is a coconut and chilly fusion. My pick? The fresh orange juice mixed with honey- it was perfectly rejuvenating on the hot summer afternoon.

Habitart although only a month old, has already achieved admirers from abroad and other parts of India, besides the local who have a taste for art and health food habits.

Snacks for two priced at Rs. 250, Handicrafts start from Rs. 50. Details: 0413-2220519

Soul Benefits

Let Hang Wang from Auroville help you find harmony with the ancient Chinese technique of Chi Kung

There are endless ways to find inner peace in Auroville, what with expats combining both eastern and western techniques at workshops and retreats to arrive at the perfect route map. One person who is said to help you find harmony and well being is Hang Wang, who specialises in Chi Kung. Born in Vietnam, Wang moved to the US in 1980, where he started learning healing at Shiatsu School of California. “There were many personal changes in my life and I did a lot of bodywork and energy healing, along with intense cleansing, fasting, acupuncture, changes in diet and yoga,” he reminisces, adding that it was here that he first became acquainted with Chi Kung, an ancient method of healing. “Life experiences shape our body. And practise of Chi Kung can help improve our health in relieving tension, pain and weakness,” says Wang, adding that healing itself is a spiritual process.

The green signal

Greatly influenced by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Wang visited India in 2001 where a spiritual experience reaffirmed that Chi Kung was his calling. It is all about aligning exercise and meditation to with breath and movement. Drawing from Chinese martial arts and philosophy, Wang explains that the essence of the method is Chi. “Chi is the life force which permeates the universe and our being. The essence of practice it to connect with Chi, have a relationship with it and allow it to transform from within,” he says. “Training is a tool for disciplining the mind and focusing our chi,” he adds. He continues that practising Chi Kung helps one strengthen the chakras and evoke Shakti within themselves.

Workshops all year

Calling Auroville his spiritual home, Wang has been travelling across India, conducting workshops, since 2011. In addition to expats, he attracts people from varied professions – musicians, students, entrepreneurs and even retired folk. He has plans to conduct summer workshops in Egypt and Europe. Wang also takes classes in Auroville, in communities like Vérité  and in Swaram. The classe for locals is free and is priced at `200 for the others, per session. Each workshop is priced at `2,100 and the schedule is available at hang-wang.com . Wang also hopes to launch a meditation centre where people can drop in to practise healing and meditation, and is currently looking for sponsors to help him realise this. Details:  7639432970

Let the Waves Roll

The Bay of Life surfing school on East Coast Road promises a summer of easy lessons on surfing and stand up paddling 
With summer just a couple of months away, any activity that involves the sun, sea and fun is always welcome. Which is why Bay of Life surfing school is likely to get more registrations than they can handle. Operating in Muttukadu and Kovalam on the East Coast Road, the school was started in August last year and is the brain child of Madhumathi Ravi, who has an advertising and communications background. Also on the team are Showkath Jamal, an adventure lover and wildlife enthusiast and Krishna Chidambaresh,an engineer and entrepreneur, who have been childhood friends and business partners (they have been running a call center together) for about eight years.

How it began
“It all started when the tsunami struck the coast in 2004 and we got close to the fishermen in Kovalam,” explains Jamal, recalling their rehabilitation efforts. “Later, foreigners came to the area with their surf boards and the sport was picked up by the locals and fishermen. In no time, they became skilled surfers as well. That’s how the sport spread,” he continues. The team then came up with the idea of starting a social enterprise that would also benefit the local communities. The school was started with three skilled trainers Appu, Vicky and Venkat, along with Jamal – surf class inductor and paramedic. Jamal explains that Bay of Life is the first and only surf school in Tamil Nadu to be accredited by the Surfing Federation of India.

When to begin
Bay of Life currently offers surfing and stand up paddling lessons. According to Jamal, beginners can start any time of the year, though the best season for the pros is from February to November. The pro seasons start from the month of March onwards. And for stand up paddling, the going is good all year. “Stand up paddling is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. It can be  practiced on ocean waves, flat water, rivers, lakes, back waters and even whitewater. It’s a great way to explore water ways. It’s like a big surf board with a paddle to paddle on!” explains Jamal, who took to the sport in 2009. The course modules cover all the elements of surfing and stand up paddling, including classes on ocean safety, reading the currents and and swimming in the ocean. Students are also taught about marine ecology and beach life.

No age bar
Bay of Life provides world class equipment, prescribed by international governing bodies. After a couple of classes, if you want to take your sport to the next level, you are welcome to invest in a a surf board. “Age is not a factor when it comes to learning to surf. We get a lot of people from schools and colleges, as well as corporates who are looking for a healthier, sportier lifestyle,” shares Jamal, adding that he has students from six years to 56.

Mind the course
“Our trainers are currently India’s No 1 and 2 champions at the India Surf Festival 2012- Odisha,” says Jamal. The standard structured lesson is for three hours a day, and they have packages with four and eight lessons. These lessons can be spread across a month or two, or can be taken back to back, depending on the student’s work or academic schedule and interest. They are open to customisation for couples, groups and corporates. Also, Bay of Life is open to sponsoring your training sessions if you are are competing at any SWAT, SFI or ISA level events. Course fees start from `1,500 for an hour-long introduction session (Discover Surf). The First Wave Structured Lesson is `2,500 (3 hours) and the packages range from `7,000 a month.
Details: bayoflife.com

Crafting the Unusual

LiGHT FiSH from Auroville challenges you to think, with DIY lighting accessories, 3D modelling, animation and other services..

Those interested in animation and product design and even someone with a love for aesthetics will want to bring something from LiGHT-FiSH home. Sleek and contemporary, the bedside lamps and hanging lamps are ideal if you are looking to add a dash of quirkiness to your living space. Inspired by the power of innovation and problem solving, the firm was started by Samvit Blass in Mumbai in 2009. Blass studied product design at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. For five years he worked as a senior product designer at prestigious product design companies in North America and later as a product design teacher for three years in Shanghai and Mumbai. He decided to use his accumulated experiences to start his own company, and the firm relocated to Aurelec, in his home town of Auroville, in 2010.

What They Do
The firm specialises in product design, 3D product animation, prototyping and lightening. The third offers consumers a line of luminaries that are minimalist, efficient, and functional, with high-end finishing and design. Unlike most product design companies, LiGHT-FiSH manufactures and sells their own products. They have designed an entire laser cut lamp line using acrylic and stainless steel. “Our products are inspired by nature, geometrical shapes, and the female form,” says Samvit. In addition, services are provided related to sketching (concept brainstorming), 3D modeling (engineered designs ready for prototyping), Sheet Metal Modeling, (advanced folding and unfolding of sheet metal products), prototyping (connecting with manufacturers, supervising until the product is ready for production), rendering and animation (photo realistic renderings of the client’s product).

Ready to Experiment
LiGHT-FiSH is on an experimental curve and uses materials such as stainless steel acrylic, used bottles, bamboo, wood, aluminium and more. “In most cases, the material we use comes in sheets which are then cut by a laser and assembled by the user. Much like a 3D puzzle, the pieces snap together. The process of assembly is fun and simple. Additional benefits of using flat pack system are: Compact packaging and shipping as well as reduced risk of breakage during transportation,” explains Blass. The firm focuses on sustainability in all of their designs through material, consumer usage and fabrication.

Coming up
With architects and interior designers showing a lot of interest in their products, the team offers custom designs for clients seeking a specialised lighting environment. Currently under development is an energy-efficient line of LEDs with recycled materials. They are also exploring water proof LED for pools, ponds and gardens.
Hourly rates for product design start at `1,000, product animation at `1,500. The L-F LiGHTING products start at `700. Details: light-fish.com

Beyond Music

Drop by Cafe Music this weekend for A Seed of Love, featuring handicrafts, circus workshops and Carnatic rock

Popular for its organic food and music workshops, Music Cafe on Periyamudaliyar Chavadi Street, is hosting a Pongal celebration, Seed of Love. Started by Auroville-based musicians Laurent De Paolis and Helene De Paolis from local reggae band Zamasanga, Music Cafe promises a lot of fun, even if it is a week after the real festival.

Art, circus and crafts
Expect a handicraft market with sourced from designers in Auroville. Kalou, an Aurovillean, will be conducting circus workshops at the cafe, so make sure you bring your children along. At the same time, munch on delicious crepes both sweet and savoury, all day.. Zeto, a French street artist known for his vibrant graffiti, will showcase his paintings and photographs, along with Louis, a photographer from the Auroville Hibiscus Art village. In the evening, look forward to an open air screening of the musical documentary about the tsunami called the Laya Project.

Experiments and dinner
The event ends with a performance by Krishna’s Temple Rock, great for fans of Carnatic rock. The Pondicherry-based band draws its roots from traditional Carnatic ragas, fused with Western rock and jazz, to present an edgy sound. The five-member band is known to bring their unique style and experiences to create a new sound in the field of world music. And while you enjoy the music, dig into an Indian spread with Chettinad biriyani and South Indian specials like dosais and vadais.
Entry is priced at `200 for adults and is free for children.

The workshop is at `125 and dinner is at `150 per head. On January 21, fom 5 pm to 8.30 pm.For reservations contact 9787095661 or zamalmusic@gmail.com

Shop, Recline, Eat

At Pondicherry’s Café des Arts, experience an eclectic charm and French staples like bruschetta and salads.

Nourishment for all the senses. That is what Eva Laberibe from New Caledonia along with her mother, promise with their enterprise in Labourdonnais Street in the peaceful French quarter of Pondicherry. The duo launched Made in Gallery in 2009, where they hosted monthly exhibitions and artists like Corrine Yvernault, Subrata Mete, B.O. Shailesh Sakthivel and many others. To add another dimension to the place that Laberibe now runs with her fiancé, she launched Café des Arts in July of 2009 with a menu inspired by southern French cuisine.

At home with soup

Find yourself a seat under the cool shade of a in the courtyard of this heritage building, and peruse the menu. I started with a chilled iced tea, with the right level of sweetness. Several French tourists had braved the hot sun and were dining on bowls of gaspacho (a cold tomato-based soup), served with garlic bread and a classic salad. They were quick to let me know that the place and the food reminded them of home. Following Laberibe’s suggestion, I sampled the bruschetta, the Forest version – ham, mushroom, mozzarella and parsley served on toasted baguette. If you love French food and the aroma of fresh parsley on melted mozzarella, this hits the spot. The food arrived under 10 minutes and vanished in no time. There are nine different varieties of baguette sandwiches starting from a croque provencal, a toasted sandwich with French ratatouille and cheese served warm with fresh Vegetables to a simple Chicken Cheese sandwich to choose from. A good way to end the mid-day meal is with a glass of Hibiscus flower syrup with soda – a lovely Indo-French touch to the experience.

A quiet setting

Peaceful, with colonial French architecture, the courtyard is a charming spot for people who would like to spend the entire day reading a book from the library at the Café. Or for tired tourists who wish to use the complimentary wi-fi service. Contemporary artists from across the country as well as other parts of the world exhibit their paintings, photos and architecture at the gallery. A boutique remains open all through the day at the Café, selling bags, accessories and tees, mostly for men. The boutique is part of the Nirvana Boutique at Suffren Street.

Day breaker

Cafe des Arts offers a good breakfast option for those with time on their hands. Their complete combo includes croissants, toast with homemade jam/butter, fresh fruit juice, salad, omelette or fried eggs with bottomless cups of coffee/tea. Priced at ‘270’ Rupees.

Lunch at the cafe for two is approximately ‘600’ Rupees. And the boutique has items from Rupees ‘50’ onwards.
Details: 9994481914