Objects of Desire from SIKAO, a nomadic gallery

Is there still an invisible line where traditional crafts blend into art, and artisans become artists? For Shivaranjan, a Karnataka-based artist, his nomadic shepherd roots have given him both the medium and muse. Working with an earthy palette of 52 shades inspired by the Deccan plateau, he crafts sculptural objects from Deccani sheep wool, drawing on his experiences as a herder. Shivaranjan is one of 47 artists displaying his work at a curated exhibition of collectibles, Objects of Desire, on March 7-8 at Ballard Estate in Mumbai.

Aaryaa Velani & G. Jeswant.

Pinky Daga, co-founder of SIKAO

The two-day showcase, by travelling gallery SIKAO (meaning quiet contemplation or moment of reflection in Mandarin), is a meaningful first step for co-founders Pinky Daga, a theatre practitioner, and her son Kabbier Daga, a multidisciplinary artist working across sound, film and sculpture.

Kabbier Daga, co-founder of SIKAO

Forty-one Indian and six international artists have created over 200 objets d’art in clay, wool, stone, textiles, ceramics, metal and wood. This material-rich, narrative-led, artist-centric repertoire positions collectible design as a creator of cultural artefacts, resisting the commodification of modern aesthetics. 

By Aaryaa Velani & G. Jeswant

Mumbai has been the epicentre of this movement, showcasing Neo-Deco collectibles at India Design ID 2025 and the stylised Art Deco Alive exhibits (November 2025), which brought textiles, furniture, and Deco-era collectibles to the seaside city.

By Fliss Dodd

Debut showcase

Pinky is excited for her first show, as she opens up her heart and art to her coastal hometown. “Indian design is having its moment on a global scale, so there’s no better time than now to showcase how our artists are embracing a global aesthetic,” she says. “We have a collective of both established and budding artists who have created exceptional pieces exclusively for us.” To keep the artwork within the reach of young collectors, the pricing ranges from ₹15,000 to ₹2 lakh, “depending on the man-hours required and the intricacy of the artform”, adds Pinky.

By Ganesh Burud

Each piece tells a story of provenance and process. Bengaluru-based textile artist Pragati Mathur, whose oeuvre includes textile art from diverse yarns, has created “a copper totem pole and a sculptural metallic ode to Hampi rocks, really going out of her comfort zone to fashion something truly exceptional”.

Harshita Jhamtani’s work of art.

“Then there’s Harshita Jamtani, known for her lights, but she has imagined a collection of dolls for us in her signature style,” explains the founder.

Shivaranjan’s work of art.

She adds, “Shivaranjan is a wonderful artist from Karnataka who tends his flocks in the fields while using the colours and traditions of the Deccan plateau. We had initial conversations with him in 2025 and iterated AI models so he could render the object in his materiality.”

Shweta Mansingka’s work of art.

Aaryaa Velani and Jeswant G. bring in two pieces crafted in ceramic, wood and fibre, created during their residency at Hampi Art Labs, Bellary, in collaboration with artisans from the Sandur Collective. The pieces, while evoking everyday objects, are sculptural and represent evolving artist traditions in more contemporary forms.

Tilfi, founded in Varanasi (by Aditi Chand, Ujjwal Khanna and Udit Khanna), celebrates craft as an archival collection of motifs and materials, presenting pieces inspired by mythology and crafted in hand-worked brass. Ahmedabad-based Rutva Joshi takes up projects pairing painting, mural and sculpture and has created a terracotta-hued sculptural collectible.

Other works

Other notable pieces spotlighted by the curator include sculptural ceramic works by Ganesh Burud, an alumnus of the JJ School of Art who uses the medium to explore themes of chaos and the aesthetic language of cubism.

Australian ceramic artist Fliss Dodd brings her interpretation of anthropomorphic forms through culture, ritual and storytelling, using sgraffito carving (layering slip or underglaze on clay and carving through it to reveal the surface underneath).

“My team of artisans at Pyramid Valley (a wellness centre set up by Pinky in Bengaluru) have also created bespoke rammed earth sculptural pieces,” says the founder. Ahmedabad-based studio, Length Breadth Height, presents furniture from raw basalt stone and marble, complemented by Deetee Homes’ luxury planters, redefining biophilic inspiration through architectural design. Mumbai-based Shailesh Rajput Studio presents sculptural metal fixtures alongside Mugen Home’s collectibles carved from alabaster and metal, creating an iridescent mineral glow. 

From Mumbai to Milan

In this eclectic curation, each piece has been intentionally created with many iterations since July 2025. Everything on display is exclusive to SIKAO and not available with the artist or their studios. After the exhibition, a few chosen collectibles will travel to Italy for the 11th edition of Alcova during Milan Design Week. “It’s a moment of pride to provide this platform to Indian artists. We would then like to close the year with stops at Dubai, Doha and a few Indian cities off the beaten track,” concludes Pinky.  

‘Objects of Desire’ is on view March 7–8, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. at IF.BE Ballard Estate

The freelance writer is based in Chennai.

Published – March 07, 2026 12:26 pm IST