TRENDING 38 I Livingetc May 2023 India Forward WITH A NEUTRAL AND TIMELESS DESIGN ÆQUŌ, IS THE COUNTRY’S FIRST GALLERY DEDICATED TO CONTEMPORARY COLLECTIBLE DESIGN WORDS VARUNI MOHAN PHOTOS COURTESY ÆQUŌ W ith the vision of elevating the po- tential of Indian craft, æquō was founded by Tarini Jindal Handa as India’s first collectible design gallery. Under the vision of creative director Florence Louisy, the experimental project based in Mumbai in- troduces global designers to fine Indian crafts - manship, giving global importance to the coun - try’s artisanal heritage. Housed in the historic Colaba district, the minimalist interior is rooted in India with intentionally sourced local materi - als. Tarini tells us, “I looked at lots of spaces in Mumbai before finding a first floor apartment in a heritage building in Colaba. On one hand, the physical gallery is so important to æquō because it means we are from Mumbai and wherever we go we will always be the design gallery from In - dia. The crafted interiors also give real roots to the concept of æquō being about Indian materi - als and techniques. It was designed by a French architect, Ivan Oddos, and therefore the space represents some of the spirit of international ex- change. I like how he looked at the old and new - he managed to combine the white cube but with hints of the antique structure. For example, there are original pillars which most architects would have decided to either keep or remove. But he did both - he retained them but offered only a glimpse of their curvature from the crisp con- æquō was founded by Tarini Jindal Handa as India’s first collectible design gallery May 2023 Livingetc I 39 temporary walls. So the space itself represents this fusion of past and present, of contemporary India and of the exchange of global aesthetics that fascinates me.” Tarini comes from a pedigree of three gener - ations of art patrons and was raised in a culture of supporting the arts; her grandmother founded the Kanoria Centre for Arts, the artist residen- Housed in the protected heritage building of the Devidas Mansion in Colaba, æquō’s gallery space has been designed by French architect Ivan Oddos cy in Ahmedabad, and her mother founded Art India magazine. Collecting, supporting craft clusters and commissioning artisans were a big part of her upbringing. As her personal taste has evolved, Tarini’s interests have been honed into architecture, design and craftsmanship, which reflects in the genesis of æquō. She was a collec - tor of design before becoming a design gallerist and tells us, “As I was traveling, I became very aware that there was no collectible design gallery in India. I was literally the collector with noth- ing to collect from my own country. Part of it was curiosity about what could be created. Part of it was out of wanting to support Indian craftsman - ship with a global platform. Certainly, I saw a gap in the market.” æquō is ultimately about design without borders and reflects a globalisation al - ready seen across other industries. “I am person - ally excited about the aesthetics of what cultural fusion looks like. When global designers look at Indian craftsmanship and materials. æquō cre - ates and commissions collectible design, which is sustainable by definition. I love the idea that we are making precious pieces of furniture that will exist forever. They’re the antiques of the fu - ture,” concludes Tarini. ♦ aequo.in