Papier Mache Cows

The Papier Mache herd of cows have been my constant source of inspiration/ introspection in the last months when we have all been home bound. The rawness of form of this ancient eco-friendly folk craft is timeless. Moreover this is one craft from Bihar that is made by women and is passed down from mother to daughter. Handmade with simple locally available materials each object has some degree of uniqueness and diversity peculiar to its maker. Observing the light animating these objects further radiates a feeling of ‘the joy of making’. Simple yet timeless these beautiful objects talk about frugality, recycling, empowerment and joy. One begins to question and wonder where this timeless character comes from and how can it be achieved today through the process of design, where often our decisions get clouded by reasoning rather than following our inner sensibilities.

Khushnu Panthaki Hoof

Architect / Exhibition Designer / Curator

Khushnu Panthaki Hoof is an architect. She is the Director of the Vastu Shilpa Foundation for studies & research in Environmental Design.

The main focus of her architectural practice have been to create spaces which integrate environmentally responsible approach and understanding of human behaviour patterns into their manifestation.

Khushnu has been involved with designing the publications ‘Paths Uncharted’ - an autobiographical writing of Balkrishna Doshi. In 2019, she co-authored and edited the publication, Balkrishna Doshi : Architecture for the People which won the Richard Schlagman award of Best book on contemporary architecture in 2019 and was listed in as one of the best books of 2019 by New York Times Critiques.

She was the creative director for ‘Celebrating Habitat’ - 4 min film & the 90 min documentary on Doshi which became the official selection at the Milano Design Film Festival in 2015.

In 2014 she was invited by the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, Ministry of Culture to curate and design the retrospective exhibition of Balkrishna Doshi. This exhibition later travelled to at the Power Station of Art Museum in Shanghai, Vitra Design Museum in Europe, Architekturmuseum in Munich at Pinakothek de Moderne, Architekturzentrum in Vienna and it will now be shown at Wrightwood659 in Chicago in September 2020.