‘Chakraview’ a uniquely designed art installation presented by Indian artists at an ongoing exhibition in London is an apt exploration of ancient Indian mythology blended beautifully with modern times.

The presentation is a part of the first London Design Biennale (LDB) and has opened at Somerset House in London with over 30 countries and territories participating, it is being held from September 7 to 27 this year.

“Kitch Chakra’s, typographic elements and beautiful hangings is a very modernist representation. Chakraview doesn’t look old-fashioned or fuddy-duddy at all. We’ve used chakra as the catchword because it’s yogic and meditative and everyone around the world can understand and view it in different ways,” said scenographer Sumant Jayakrishnan,

At the 37 installations, one can delve in Chakraview which has been created as a colorful walk-in installation and explores the concept of ‘Utopia by Design,’ which is what the LDB 2016 is themed around. Chakraview or the source of power, symbol of evolution and renewal, takes you deep into India’s current concepts as it touches upon the topics of sustainability, migration, pollution, energy and social equality, and how they relate to design in India.

Alice Cicolini, a London-based designer said that the installation delves deep into the 100-year-old Indian design industry. The philosophy reflects Charles & Ray Eames’s ‘The India Report, first released in April 1958’ that said that Chakra is a symbol of an utopian India that Mahatma Gandhi believed was possible if traditional crafts were revived, agrarian innovation was advanced and villages were developed.

The artists have skillfully developed an Indian reflection through an extravagant installation using gorgeous Jamdani and Ikat silks, which hang from the ceiling; hand-painted signs enclosed in circular hoops fill up the wall, and a black shiny reflective floor that mirror the ceiling with multiple chakras on it. Apart from executing the theme, some Indian Industry has contributed to the space. Distinctly Indian in approach the installations use the silks from Aadyam, the presentation of the Aditya Birla Group on the floor has been done by Jindal Steel and the hand-painted signage was created by Delhi-based street artists, Hanif Kureshi and Rutva Trivedi.