Murti
naked idol
MILAN DESIGN WEEK
2019
Reimagining of the toilette with mirror, an early furniture typology predating modern plumbing, this piece translates a historical object into a contemporary context. Conceived as both sculpture and functional artifact, it reflects on rituals of self and space through a materially grounded lens.
Constructed entirely from natural materials including, bamboo, jute, hay, cow dung, limestone, and mirror, the work draws from traditional idol-making practices in India, where form emerges through layering, binding, and handcraft.
All materials were sourced from villages in Jharkhand, including a rare dense species of bamboo with an almost solid core.
Originally designed for exhibition at the Museo d'arte e scienza in Milan during Milan Design Week 2019, and later shown in Zurich and Lake Como, the piece situates vernacular craft within a contemporary, global discourse while retaining their inherent logic, tactility, and cultural memory.
