Navin Kanodia – Founder & CEO, ST Unicom

“Even though style and trend is changing every day, there are some trends which are timeless. The traditional or the old design philosophy representing life and form is now being presented with modern styling,” says Navin Kanodia, Founder & CEO, ST Unicom, Kolkata, in this exclusive interview with Dilip Phansalkar.

Excerpts:

Tell us in your own words about the purpose you had in mind when founding the business group you head.
Being an avid traveler and a creative professional I have witnessed the very best in the world of design. I have always been inspired by these works of the great artists and designers from all over the world. It is my flair for design and styling that prompted me to venture into this business.

What attracted you especially to the business of metal artifacts?
I started with metal as I found it to be a very expressive, sleek and valuable. It has a sleek look that is perfect for today’s contemporary homes. It is extremely versatile as various shapes and forms can be expressed easily through metal. It is also a beautiful way of recycling the industrial metal waste.

What is the variety of metals used in shaping sculptures?
In fact all kinds of metals are being used nowadays. Regular steel, stainless steel, corten steel, brass, bronze, copper, aluminium are being used primarily with faux finishes which add the drama to the piece.

Tell us about the skilled artisans who fashion metals into exquisite artifacts?
Spacio showcases a wide range of metal wall art from Artisan House, the leading name in the world for metal art from USA. Artisan House is known for the designers and crafters of unique, fine-quality metal sculptures for wall, floor and tabletop, has attained an enviable position in the home and commercial decor marketplace across the globe.

The firm offers beautiful, decorative pieces by creating original sculptures with unparalleled designs at affordable prices. The result infuses today’s indoor and outdoor environments with dazzle and dimension.

Artisan House wall sculptures elevate the look of any room or outdoor setting thanks to a comprehensive array of designs showcasing multi-coloured, cool and warm tones; nature-themed pieces with earthly inspirations; and sculptures reminiscent of activities that relax, excite or inspire. It was started by Jerry Fels and Kurt Freiler’s who shared passion for creative development and design became apparent soon after they met in the 1940s.

Freiler, a German immigrant and manufacturing ace with a knack for reinventing the use of tools, and Fels, a New York-based artist, quickly became friends and, soon after, began taking their first steps to securing a successful business future together. Having found their talents a natural match, the pair collaborated and launched Artisan House in 1964.

Very successful in their venture, the firm quickly became known for its collection of eclectic, decorative wall decor. More than 70 years later, the company is largely popular amongst vintage art dealers and collectors, has caught the attention of leading designers, like Michael Payne and Jonathan Adler, and offers its discerning clients an ever-evolving roster of more than 350 pieces.

Today the brand’s most celebrated collection is C. Jere by Artisan House. The C. Jeré collection is a collaborative effort by several artists. 50 years ago, the two founders of Artisan House combined pieces of their own names to create the C. Jeré signature that is now so familiar. The other metal wall art brand we have is Gardeco from Belgium. It is a décor brand that stands for chic, contemporary, glamorous and aesthetic art and decor accessories. Gardeco could be considered an art publisher – or editor – that represents artists and craftsmen. It’s where new ideas in art meet high-end decoration. Gardeco is a success story that deserves to be in the spotlight – which you will appreciate as a professional purchaser. The objective of Gardeco is to bring affordable pieces of art for a broader public.

Gardeco stands for anonymous, but authentic and pared-down art-decoration objects. Made from fine quality materials such as ceramics, bronze and glass, they are created by local artisans, real people that have feelings and respect for the Earth that they illustrate through their craftsmanship. For them, to feel is as important as to see.

Please highlight some of the major sculpture collections in your studio.
Our retail format Spacio houses a stunning collection of wall art by the much coveted designer and crafter of metal sculptures, Artisan House. The exquisite collection available at Spacio is actually a careful selection from the brand’s latest collection reflecting sophisticated luxury and notable artwork for the living area.

The selection comprises excellent wall art, murals and sculptures reflect the unwavering standards of excellent craftsmanship, extreme creativity and innovation. Artisan House collection features wall murals, table décor, free standing figurines, indoor & outdoor metal art pieces, The featured wall art pieces are Gallop, Swan, The Bridge, City Park, Coral moon, Hemispheres, Elliptical and many more. These are a part of the collection by designer C. Jere from Artisan House.

S.T. Unicom has also launched Gardeco offering wide collection of art and decorative objects, sculptures, statues, from different designers for home, garden and projects.

How is the demand like in the metals sculptures market from consumers?
In India the demand for metal art is growing. The new generation is well aware of the global trends and brands.

What is the popular trend these days when it comes to choosing between traditional and modern metal art?
The current trend is somewhat eclectic with a mix of modernity. The old art and style is still prevalent but has a more modern twist to it. The old forms inspired by the old principles of architecture have now found expression through new designing sensibilities.

Even though style and trend is changing every day, there are some trends which are timeless. The traditional or the old design philosophy representing life and form has now being presented with modern styling.

Tell us about the skilled artisans who made sculptures like Gallop, human figurines, wall murals, etc.
Creating at the level of pure genius are the brilliant artists behind C. Jeré by Artisan House. Each artist is completely his/her own in design, but all are armed with an unmatchable sense of ingenuity, talent and execution. Some of the gifted masterminds for Artisan House are Shawn Coffey, Cindy & Joe McDonnell’s, Michael Payne, Karin Swildens, Cynthia Butler, Emily Schmidt, Angela Alvarez, etc.

Another most beautiful and chic brand is Gardeco which has an array of 30 world acclaimed designers on board – Renaat Ramon, Marijke Vijfhuizen, Domingos Totora, Paola Abiko, PAntelo Musaro, Vera Borghgraef,Viviane Decramer, Mieke Deweerdt, Patricia Peeters, Catherine Van Landuyt, Agnes Urbain, Linde Urgo, Erli Fantini, Raffaella Benetti, Jacques Vanroose, Ann Vrielinck, Guy Buseyne, among others.

Which are some of the metal artifacts fashioned for residential interiors projects?
We have done private luxury villas and private collections across India.

 Collection of Metal Art: C. Jere from Artisan House

 This season, Spacio has launched a whole new range of wall art by the much coveted designer and crafter of metal sculptures, Artisan House. The exquisite collection launched at Spacio is actually a careful selection from their latest summer collection reflecting sophisticated luxury and notable artwork for the living area.

The selection comprises excellent wall art, murals and sculptures reflect the unwavering standards of excellent craftsmanship, extreme creativity and innovation. The featured wall art pieces are part of the collection by designer C. Jere from the Artisan House.

Artisan House, designers and crafters of unique, fine-quality metal sculptures for wall, floor and table top, has attained an enviable position in the home and commercial decor marketplace. The firm has successfully closed the gap between pricey offerings from exclusive art galleries and mass-produced decorative pieces by creating original sculptures with unparalleled designs at affordable prices. The result infuses today’s indoor and outdoor environments with dazzle and dimension.

Artisan House wall sculptures elevate the look of any room or outdoor setting, thanks to a comprehensive array of designs showcasing multi-coloured, cool and warm tones; nature themed pieces with earthly inspirations; and sculptures reminiscent of activities that relax, excite or inspire.

Table top and freestanding floor pieces also make dynamic statements in the home or out-of-doors. For more than four decades, Artisan House’s vibrant, versatile designs have been recognized as multi-dimensional ‘metal works of art’.

Spacio is India’s leading one-stop destination for home décor, furniture and accessories. The retail brand offers you a stunning range of homes décor items, artifacts and furniture that can make a magic Wall difference in transforming your living style. The brand boasts of showcasing more than 16 international brands.

The retail space is 25,000 sq ft of sheer indulgence into the most beautiful home decor ideas. As the name suggest, the spacious store is India’s biggest ever multi-level specialty store for home décor, accessories and furniture. The aesthetically designed store is one of its kinds in Kolkata which offers a collection of stunningly beautiful range of furniture and home décor artifacts from the world’s best names.

The Mumbai store is a stunning visual treat spread over two levels. With the best of international décor brands on display the store brings in the latest décor trends in the country. Once you step into the store, a subterranean space opens up with great style, elegance and lays forth an array of furniture and home accessories in a manner that takes the breath away.

The entire floor space has been intelligently designed to showcase bewildering décor ideas and amazing collections. The tastefully done interior showcases a contemporary collection of decorative accessories and furniture – both stylish and functional.

At Spacio our constant Endeavour is to mirror the ambitions of the modern buyers. Our collections are chosen keeping in mind the needs and desires of our customers and we believe that all our customers are discerning buyers of quality and premium products.

We decided to bring in world-class furniture into the city at honest prices, and with it have given the city a taste of what a true-bred furniture store would look like, feel and experience. At Spacio, we offer you not just home décor items, but a whole new concept on interiors.

Spacio is owned by its parent company S T Unicom Pvt Ltd. The umbrella company is responsible for bringing a taste of contemporary furnishing from around the world to refined palettes in India, with many of the global brands being available in India exclusively with us.

Our eclectic collection of products has won the hearts of countless individuals who are united by a refined taste in decor and furnishing.

S T Unicom has been challenging the present notions of the furniture & décor industry for the past 20 years. Today, the company serves an array of clients ranging from corporate, multinationals and hotels and homes made by independent home builder. The company and its brands also cater to the nation’s architectural needs.

Published in:                                  Foundry Review                                   March 2017