Your Studio KOHLER Workspace
Your Studio KOHLER Workspace
Over the years, Kohler Co. has established itself as an industry pioneer, in no small part due to its commitment to promoting arts and crafts from around the world. Established in 1981, the Artist Editions initiative translates this passion into a range of bathroom or kitchen sinks — functional artworks that make the work of international artists and artisans more accessible than ever by placing them at the heart of daily life. From the first ceramic designs originally selected for the launch of the Artist Editions collection in 1985, the line has expanded year on year to include new works in stone and metal, patterned ceramic, and glass.
In 2022, a new piece celebrating the arts and crafts of India was added to the line. The limited-edition Quila sink is the result of a months-long process involving in-depth research into India’s diverse heritage of painting, textile, architecture, and embroidery styles. Following a ten-day workshop with leading Indian folk artists, Kohler decided to partner with prominent miniature-painting artist Jaiprakash Lakhiwal, whose works adorn the walls of some of the country’s most prestigious buildings, including the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the official residence of the President of India), the Prime Minister’s office, and the Supreme Court.
“We wanted to bring an authentic contemporary interpretation of Indian art forms,” says Anand Asinkar, Lead Industrial Designer at Kohler India. “With Jaiprakash, we found the perfect artist to bring the India story to life.” The range has two products, with Quila the flagship piece. Only 100 numbered units of Quila have been produced, each signed by the artist, and net profits from sales will be donated to the Delhi Crafts Council to promote the work of artisans and safeguard their traditions.
Rich and intricate, the playful visual narrative depicted on Quila’s surface captivates the viewer with its details and colors — a striking celebration of the Indian art of storytelling and of miniature painting. Lakhiwal’s two-dimensional artwork was translated onto the sink through an elaborate process involving digitization and carefully transferring the work onto the ceramic surface.
For more than 40 years, KOHLER Artist Editions sinks such as the Derring (C), Dutchmaster Midnight Floral (D), Kamala (E), Briolette Vessel (F) and Pallene Vessel (G) have added color and creativity to bathrooms
For more than 40 years, KOHLER Artist Editions sinks such as the Derring (C), Dutchmaster Midnight Floral (D), Kamala (E), Briolette Vessel (F) and Pallene Vessel (G) have added color and creativity to bathrooms
Created in collaboration with Indian miniature-painting artist Jaiprakash Lakhiwal, the limited-edition Quila sink joins Kohler Co.’s Artist Editions collection as the first bathroom art piece paying homage to India’s rich arts and crafts heritage.
_____By Nina Milhaud
For more than 40 years, KOHLER Artist Editions sinks such as the Derring (C), Dutchmaster Midnight Floral (D), Kamala (E), Briolette Vessel (F) and Pallene Vessel (G) have added color and creativity to bathrooms
For more than 40 years, KOHLER Artist Editions sinks such as the Derring (C), Dutchmaster Midnight Floral (D), Kamala (E), Briolette Vessel (F) and Pallene Vessel (G) have added color and creativity to bathrooms
“The biggest challenge for me was to paint according to the engineering drawing. Quila was made from three artworks that had to seamlessly merge into each other,” Lakhiwal shares. “The first wave of the pandemic was a blessing in disguise, as I was able to dedicate myself to the project completely and finish all the paintings in three months.”
Collaborations like these not only put regional art forms on the global stage but also provide artisans with a platform to showcase their talent. “Kohler is probably the only company in India trying to promote the rich and vibrant traditional art forms of our country,” Lakhiwal says. “I’m also proud that the entire process, from ideation and creation to colour correction, digitization, and producing the final product, was done in India.”
For its 150th anniversary this year, Kohler is partnering with four female artists to create new Artist Editions pieces: Chinese fine artist Wang Ziling, Indian artist Pushpa Kumari, Brazilian painter and muralist Ananda Nahu, and American street artist ELLE. These collaborations not only reiterate Kohler’s commitment to promoting diverse arts and crafts, but they also affirm the Artist Editions project as a powerful platform to support and celebrate the work of artists from around the world.
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For more than 40 years, KOHLER Artist Editions sinks such as the Derring (C), Dutchmaster Midnight Floral (D), Kamala (E), Briolette Vessel (F) and Pallene Vessel (G) have added color and creativity to bathrooms
For more than 40 years, KOHLER Artist Editions sinks such as the Derring (C), Dutchmaster Midnight Floral (D), Kamala (E), Briolette Vessel (F) and Pallene Vessel (G) have added color and creativity to bathrooms
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