Athmaja Biju

Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.

Japanese Architect Shigeru Ban Awarded 2026 AIA Gold Medal

Architecture, Awards /

Shigeru Ban has been awarded the 2026 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal, recognizing his pioneering contributions to architecture through innovative use of sustainable materials and humanitarian design. Award Significance The AIA Gold Medal, established in 1907, is architecture’s highest honor bestowed by the institute and one of the profession’s most prestigious awards. Past […]

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Orange Tree’s Utsaah Collection: A Celebration of Handcrafted Artistry With Contemporary Designs

Design, design collection /

Orange Tree has introduced the ‘Utsaah Collection’, a new furniture range that celebrates Indian heritage crafts through a contemporary design language. The homegrown lifestyle brand positions this collection as a fusion of handcrafted artistry, sustainable materials, and modern silhouettes aimed at elevating everyday living. The Utsaah Collection is conceived as a festive edit that blends

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Saura Tribal Art : Visual Imagery of a Scriptless Community

craft & Handmade, Culture & Heritage /
Saura paintings, sometimes called ikons or italons, feature minimal but highly symbolic figures of humans, animals, trees and space.

The Saura or Saora people live mainly in southern Odisha and count among India’s oldest tribal communities. Epic references in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, along with anthropological research, highlight the deep historical roots of this group. Because the Saura language developed without a widely used script, wall painting carries special importance as a record of

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Mukesh Sharma to Present “Decoding Digital DNA” at Bikaner House

Exhibitions /

New Delhi-based contemporary artist Mukesh Sharma will present his solo exhibition Decoding Digital DNA at the Main Gallery, Bikaner House, from December 18 to 23, 2025. The show, curated by Archana Khare-Ghose, comprises large-scale sculptural multimedia installations and mixed media paintings that reflect Sharma’s long engagement with technology, ecological consciousness, and human adaptation in the digital age. The exhibition will open with

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Re-membering Through Performance and Thread: Jyoti A Kathpalia Curates “Ski(e)n”, Showcasing RCA Alumni

Exhibitions /

Dhoomimal Gallery, one of Delhi’s oldest and most respected art spaces, is currently hosting Ski(e)n: Re-membering through Performance and Thread, an exhibition of works by Royal College of Art (RCA) alumni Abhijna Vemuru Kasa and Insha Manzoor, curated by Jyoti A Kathpalia. The exhibition opened on 5 December 2025, inaugurated by Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and runs

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Following Severe Backlash, Prada to Launch ‘Made in India’ Kolhapuri Sandals Worth ₹75,000

Design /

Italian luxury brand Prada will release a limited-edition collection of sandals crafted in India, drawing inspiration from the country’s traditional footwear styles. Each pair will sell for around €800 (approximately ₹75,000), according to Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada’s Marketing Director and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, in an interview with Reuters. The initiative follows public criticism over cultural

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Time’s AI Cover Recasts Iconic Worker Image With Billionaires

International Art News /

Time magazine’s 2025 “Person of the Year” cover, dedicated to the “Architects of AI,” has drawn criticism for its visual reworking of the historic photograph “Lunch atop a Skyscraper.” The original 1932 image, shot during the construction of New York’s Rockefeller Center, shows eleven ironworkers casually eating and smoking on a steel beam 850 feet

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François-Xavier Lalanne’s Hippopotamus Bar Fetches Record $31.4 Million at Sotheby’s

art market /

A whimsical bar in the shape of a hippopotamus by French sculptor and designer François-Xavier Lalanne sold for $31.4 million (including fees) at a Sotheby’s design auction in New York on Wednesday, December 10. The sale not only set a new auction record for Lalanne but also marked the most valuable design object ever sold

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Vayu – Design for Living Opens Expanded Lodhi Market Store

Design, Design /

Vayu – Design for Living opened its new store in New Delhi’s Lodhi Market in December 2025. The event featured a craft-led showcase attended by members of the craft, design, and cultural community. Event Highlights and Attendees The evening drew collectors, painters, architects, and cultural leaders. Notable attendees included Lekha Poddar, founder of Devi Art

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