Vahe Ensemble
I create from a place of reflection, with my work often responding to the emotions stirred by the world around me, whether wonder, dismay, or quiet defiance.
Following an MFA in Industrial Design from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, Vaishnavi Walvekar turned her attention to Indian craft. Vāhe emerged from her exploration of Kashmiri papier-mâché, developed through collaborations with artisans in Srinagar. The studio uses waste paper pulp and natural binders, hand-sculpting objects to expose texture, layering and material character.
Vāhe Ensemble grew from Walvekar’s desire to reconsider familiar Indian crafts through a contemporary design language. Her encounter with Kashmiri papier-mâché led her to work closely with artisans and explore how the craft could move beyond its traditionally decorative applications. Rather than concealing the material beneath polished surfaces and ornament, Vāhe reveals its raw qualities through atypical, often sculptural forms. The practice has since expanded into furniture, lighting, mirrors and collectible objects, incorporating materials including brass and fabric while retaining its connection to indigenous making traditions.
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