A Stunning Fusion of Craftsmanship and Mughal Opulence Transforms the V&A Main Gift Shop.
Claire Wood, the Creative Designer and Paper Artist behind Carta & Wood, a design studio specialising in paper art, installations, events and set design, was asked to reimagine the V&A’s main store with an awe-inspiring ceiling installation. Commissioned to coincide with the new exhibition, The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence, the installation dazzles with its rich colours, intricate details, and handcrafted artistry.
A Tribute to Mughal Artistry and Winter Wonders
Hanging delicately from ceiling grids, the installation is a colourful spectacle that draws inspiration from the opulent craftsmanship, intricate patterns, and lavish aesthetics of the Mughal dynasty. Reflecting the exhibition’s themes and the seasonal items stocked in-store, the installation uses an innovative medium: paper. Simple elements such as fruit, beads, and fabric ruffles have been transformed into sophisticated sculptural forms through a blend of traditional and modern techniques.
A Masterclass in Paper Craftsmanship
The installation showcases a series of tessellated giant fruits, including pomegranates, lemons, oranges, grapes, and sliced-open fruits that reveal intricate interiors. Complementing these are giant hanging beads adorned with layered patterns, sculptural ruffle forms, and delicate tassels. Each piece is handcrafted with meticulous attention to detail, employing scoring, folding, curling, pattern cutting, embossing and layering techniques. These methods bring the textures and vibrancy of Mughal art to life, mimicking architectural geometry and reflecting the era’s fascination with detail, pattern, and repetition.
The Perfect Canvas: Keaykolour Papers
To achieve this breath-taking display, Claire chose Keaykolour papers, renowned for their rich earthy tones and exceptional quality. Selecting the shades Indian Yellow, Pumpkin, Guardsman Red, Prune, China White and Royal Blue, the range offered ideal options for various crafting needs, from thinner papers for curling and bending to thicker card stock for robust tessellated structures. The shimmering Curious Metallics shade of Super Gold was also selected to enhance the installation.
“The papers were incredible to work with; the range was versatile and durable. The different gsm’s were brilliant to cut by hand and machine, had quick absorption when gluing and held shapes well when sculpted. The thick card stock was also well-suited for laser cutting, ensuring precision in even the most intricate designs.”
A Visual and Textural Feast
By transforming everyday elements into richly detailed sculptures, the installation captures the Mughal essence of opulence. The vivid, earthy tones and geometric patterns bring warmth and sophistication to the store, offering shoppers an immersive experience that bridges art, culture, and craftsmanship.
About Keaykolour:
Keaykolour is a leading brand of carbon balanced, premium-quality fine paper products, offering a diverse range of 45 colours and weights from 120gsm to 450gsm, ideal for creative and professional applications.
About Curious Metallics:
The Curious Metallics colour palette offers timeless and classy shades with subtle graduations and shimmering hues. Like all Antalis’ creative paper ranges, Curious Metallics is carbon balanced as standard via World Land Trust.
