Ambiguous Desires of a Child, ANKUR GUPTA’S first collection is inspired by children, dreams and surreal elements of Hinduism. Children dream and believe without asking for proof, they imagine and create without boundaries and generate stories of their own without permission or rationale. Living in a dream world, they connect pieces of fantasy together, bringing about ideas that may not be possible in the real world. Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating religions, it spawns an array of cultures from its traditions, vibrant imagery and sometimes humorous stories. It is these aspects that inspired the child Ankur’s vivid imagination and depth of thought. Along with his storytelling character, Ankur drew upon the manner in which children think and he created fantasy-based stories. One such story is about a boy who diligently worshipped Lord Shiva, nurturing a close relationship with the god. The boy and his school are on a school trip when the school bus breaks down in the Indian jungle. The children panic; the jungle full of wild animals including leopards, panthers and pythons and the Indian heat unbearable in the oppressive undergrowth. The boy, a true believer, prays to Lord Shiva for help. Obliged to his devotee, Lord Shiva descended into the jungle and poured water from the source of The Ganges in his head into the carburettor, rejuvenating the car and saving the children. Analyzing the painstakingly rich and intricate embroideries, beaded motifs and kaleidoscopic mix of colours that characterize Ankur’s designs, you realize there is much more than just craftsmanship in his creations, there are indeed quite beautiful stories and characters used within and as motifs. They are appliquéd, embroidered, beaded, printed, patch worked together and dusted with crystallized Swarovski elements, each more colourful, moving and funny than the last. Silhouettes are modern, derived from varying animal shapes and features. The collection has a fresh take on embroideries creating not just clothing but pieces of art. By virtue of being sporty yet elegant, playful yet wearable it is a dynamic mixture of glamour and humour.
