Charukasera

Charukasera

Johnson Singh Kshetrimayum, 2021

A collaborative project by Asian Paints and St+art India Foundation.

The planter's chair is an antique piece of furniture from the colonial era. Made of solid teakwood or Indian rosewood, the arched back and extended arms provide ample space and comfort to the sitter. A prominent presence in the verandas of Kerala's houses, the significance of this piece of furniture moves beyond its unique curves. It is upon this chair that the head of the family sits, reads the morning newspaper, takes afternoon siestas, and watches the sunset. The broad chair of the arm is used to place the 'kolambi' - a copper jar for spitting out paan.

Celebrating the role the chair plays in the lives of the people of Kerala, Asian Paints and St+art India Foundation designed the 'The Giant Chair' in wood from anjili tree. The anjili tree is prized for its durable timber, and is extensively used to make furniture, and even build houses in Kerala. The sheer size of the installation, measuring 12 feet by 20.6 feet, flips the concept of a chair on its head by diminishing the viewer before it. 'The Giant Chair' is an attempt to revive childhood memories and create an area of magic, allowing the local people to view an object of daily use from a different perspective.