Monday, February 13, 2012

Advise/Discussion and Tadelakt

This is regarding a query which was addressed by my Blog Reader.He is building a house and he looks for some advise on IPS oxide which he plans to use it on the bathroom walls.He would like to know how to get a light but rich colour.He is also curious to know if anyone in our country uses the Tadelakt method of sealing using olive soap and any other prodcuts to get anew shine.If any one could give me valuable information regarding, would be appreciated.
Anyway the queries posed where nice and he introduces me to a  method called"tadelakt"I am always excited to learn about the new methods and procedures.A basic researcher would always want to know..
to tell you all about "Tadelakt"

How do you think you get rustic and simple walls that outshine the others?An exciting technique to be learnt and understood and do you all know how the Traditional Moroccan colours get their beauty from?They have been a range of warm ,sunny and burnt brown and yellow oches of the deserts,the vermillion of Marrakech,cobalt blues of Essaouira coast and the saffron yellows of the souk,thus echoing the beauty of the Moroccan landscape?Arent you all aware of those bright colours?..This technique can be tinted to produce deep colours,with subtle nuances.


Tadelakt is a completely waterproof, polished plaster made from lime and finished with olive oil soap.The history of this highly specialized plastering technique dates back thousands of years. It has its origins in and around the ancient city of Marrakech in Morocco at the foot of the High Atlas mountains. There the Berbers, some of the original people to inhabit North Africa, discovered the magical water resistant chemistry of lime combined with olive soap.In the beginning, tadelakt was used as technique to waterproof earthen cisterns, the ability to effectiely and hygenically store water was a major development. It was not long before tadelakt became recognized as an unbelievably beautiful finish technique that could be pigmented and applied on any surface. Tadelakt became a highly prized surface treatment that was widely applied in the traditional north African hammams, and royal palaces. To this day in Morocco, the tadelakt technique is passed down as an oral tradition from master to apprentice in an unbroken lineage that dates back several thousand yearsThe word “Tadelakt” comes from the Arabic verb “dlek” which means to rub, knead or perhaps most appropriately, “to caress”.    This describes the final step of finishing where a smooth stone is used to burnish the lime.   
The allure of tadelakt is not easily described in words or pictures. It is only through touching it that you can fully appreciate this unique finish.  A tadelakt surface is at once hard as stone and soft as silk. The combination of the soap and lime creates a living breathing surface that appears to be part stone, part leather, velvety smooth.Unlike some other plasters, tadelakt is not a standardized finish. Walls look hand crafted. Tadelakt has a shiny, slightly wavy appearance and is colored with the same mineral pigments that have been used since antiquity. Over time, the lime develops a patina that creates a subtle ever changing lumination. Properly applied, tadelakt develops very fine hairline cracks that add to the ancient appearance of the finish. Because of it's unique characteristics, tadelakt can be made to seamlessly cover walls, ceilings, floors, sinks, showers, even bathtubs.(@here)













Images credit:flickr.com,google.co.uk,style-files.com,remodelista.com,jhinteriordesign.com




Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Vishala,Ahmedabad,Gujarat




On our way back from Sarkhej Roza,we were at the ‘Vishalla', the traditionally typical village type designed restaurant,by Mr. Surendra Patel.Vishalla adds to its pride of presenting the typical Indian culture through its village-like environment with its old utensils museum named as ‘Vechaar'.
A walk around the hut-like museum makes one's heart skip a beat watching at the absolute beauty of the utensils. These utensils have been through the changing seasons and times over years. They speak of the unmatchable art-genius of man kind during the old days.The designer has taken effort in preserving the  rich heritage and not let it pass away with these vessels being lost under the smoldering fire! He was determined to preserve them, and today his dream is a reality in the form of Vechaar. 
as we walked,coloured water and oil ,they were lit with buwas where wick are inserted,(detail post later)

already in time to lit the lamps



utensils in terracota,brass,aluminiun,bronze and various metals arranged on the way




the big urulis



a small temple inside the museum


not only utensil,but also boar masks and different masks where to be seen there

different shapes and sizes



different types of betel nut cracker


dowry boxes

time for us to leave,the darkness creeps in,as we leave

the lamps where lit and they shone all over,it was ablessing indeed
Images:Lakshmi Arvind

Saturday, February 4, 2012

"Tangerine trees and Marmalade Skies"

A break from the Gujarati series.With so much happening in Delhi,just couldn't give it a miss.

The title of the post is a found phrase for the Pop artist Trishla Jain's solo exhibition -"Tangerine trees and Marmalade skies" from the Beatles hit song,Lucy in the sky in the Diamonds.
She had 50 odd works displayed for her exhibition in Delhi,which ranged from furniture pieces to rocking horses,paintings to chairs to wacky installations.Her marvellous sense of colour held the show together.Jain uses old school charts,vintage comics,matchboxes ,greeting cards to create the collages.She mixes literary allusions with pop culture.Sufi poetry and Shakespeares sonnets finds way into her works..An English graduate from Standford ,She describes herself as a writer and her brushes are strokes of words .Its all about her world of imagination,the pastel colours,the lime greens and the oranges and the words that went with it..
Read more about Trishla Jain




Thursday, January 26, 2012

An Evening at Sarkhej Roja,Ahmedabad

  Sarkhej Roza was the home of the spiritual leader of Sultan Ahmed Shah named Ahmed Kattu Gang Baksh, who was a Muslim religious leader. It contains a cluster of monuments, the origin of which can be dated back to the times of Mughal rule in Ahmedabad.Read more here

Sarkhej Roza,the most tranquil spaces I have ever come across and I think I could visit it umpteen number of times.The inner most mausoleum forms the wonderful realm of architecture within the Roza.Its truly a sacred world.The architecture is mesmerizing. It is a platform where three distinctive worlds coexist, namely royal, religious and social. The palaces and tombs form part of the royal world, the mosque constitutes the religious realm and the tanks and pavilions have given rise to the social world. The carved stone grills create an atmosphere of tranquility, thereby serving as a great retreat for people seeking peace.  Our Driver Johnny was the one who guided us in time at the Roza.When we reached there the sun had started its descend and the atmosphere was bathed in the golden light.What more could we ask for?

"Adhan" the call for Prayer,could be heard from the  loudspeakers there .People rushing for prayers,some of them relaxing under the neem tree,some enjoying the breeze,some involved in gossip  sessions.There weren't much people there at this time of the year.The reflection of light created beautiful impressions as we rushed from buildings to buildings. The play of lights is wonderful and slow and gradually it envelopes the place.Indeed a blessing to be there.We even got permission to see the  backside of the tank.

Adhan and the  play of light and then you enter the mosque the most sacred among all ,and thats a space on its own ,helping us to see the ultimate goal,The god,the Allah as they say..As we entered ,it was filled with prayers the Namaz,a very simple,faithful and mindless exercise.It filled our mind..We could hear the voice of God in ones soul.It was one of the days when I felt in peace with myself and the surroundings.



as we enter the map of Sarkhej Roja

The Lattice work


sun sets and the wonderful play starts


the shadows grew and grew and they ...


they enveloped the place where we sat




the mood,the sanctity of the environment made us bow down to god


noticing that each work is stark different from the other


shadows and shadows
its greener on the other side,as i panned




beautiful and exquisite
the serenity


as we entered
hear the inner voice,prayers filled the space


as we walked
please take note


inshah allah!




as we walked past the corridors,the old photographs,jaalis and shadows
a meeting room


the great tank,usually where bazzars are there during festival time


light awashed buildings


the tank from the mosque area


wonderful for summers,resembled hindu architecture alot

the tank in its entirety


used to get filled with water

sat here and remembered and rethinked a lot of together times..

Images :Lakshmi Arvind
Pl do not copy nor steal images


Related Posts with Thumbnails