Kala Curry Radio at Unbaked's Studio

Samriddhi Balasubramaniam lets her emotions flow through polymer clay and brass. Each Unbaked piece is raw, real, and always unfinished in the most beautiful way. 

1. Tell us a little about yourself—who you are, what you do, and how art became a part of your journey.

Hello! I'm Samriddhi Balasubramaniam, 29, and I suppose I've become the entire universe behind Unbaked - founder, creative director, shipping department, customer service, and admittedly, a professional overthinker all woven into one person. We create jewelry that stops you mid-scroll, pieces that make you pause and wonder "what even IS that?" in the most beautiful, curious way. Looking back, I think if you've never seen anything quite like what we make before, we're probably walking the right path.

We're all still becoming, still figuring it out as we go, and our jewelry holds that beautifully unfinished energy within every piece. It's jewelry for souls who don't want to look like everyone else, for people who aren't afraid of embracing a little bit of weird in their world.

I think art was always a part of my journey. Ever since I could hold a crayon to paper, I used art as a medium of self expression. It's been a long journey of many, many, MANY hobbies! Looking back, it was probably because I felt I was able to better express myself through art, and it became my safe space - a place I could just BE - devoid of the expectations of the world around me.

2. Art isn’t just something we see—it’s something we live with. How does art seep into your daily life? And what does art mean to you?

Aah, well. Art is really something I consume all day everyday - I like to think that I let it seep into every single aspect of my life - from the clothes I wear, to the home I create, the food I make, to the colours my eyes love looking at. And of course, art IS and is in the pieces I make for Unbaked! I think art is something that provokes thought - I love it when I engage with art and it pushes me to really interact with all the layers that exist within it, evaluating my relationship with each of them and then looking at it as a whole. What does it mean to me now? I think that “aha” moment really comes when you relate your interpretation to your own thoughts or experiences and my favourite part is when you finally make sense of it, in your own way, you know?

3. Why do you think handcrafted art matters today more than ever?

I think the answer is staring at us in the face : it’s automation! Especially with AI going out of bounds, and a country like ours starting to see more value in fast goods than the ones that are slow made. Handcrafted doesn’t just mean something is made by hand - it really contains multitudes - someone’s whole thought process, iterations, and most importantly - a love for their craft has gone into that one single piece. How crazy is that? 

4. How many years have you been practicing this craft?

Professionally, around 6 years but I’ve been a hobby girlie so I’ve dabbled for around 12 years or so!

5. What makes an artist an artist? (like who can call themselves an artist/what counts as being an artist)

I think an artist is someone who brings the skill and creative concept together to create a piece of art. Is your work starting off some process of thought in the people who are engaging with it? I believe it must have some sign of individuality and something so deeply personal, that is vulnerable or disruptive. 

6. What does being an artist/brand that sells art mean to you? 

First off, I think it means that I can express myself through my medium and people support me for it - which is incredible validating for a creative. But what I think is most meaningful is when I see my customers truly connect with my pieces - emotionally. And that’s ALL I strive for as an artist and as a brand - for people to cherish pieces that they see some part of themselves in.

7. How long does it usually take to create one piece from start to finish?

So it usually depends from style to style, but I’d stay an average of an hour for a pair of earrings. There are some that take even 3-4 hours!

8. What drew you to the medium(s) you work with?

I was dealing with a rough mental health patch in 2019, between jobs and definitely in a depressive state of mind. I found a box of forgotten polymer clay from college and decided to get my hands dirty. I cannot tell you how cathartic it was - to just let all my emotions flow through the clay. I also think it’s because I can literally make my ideas come to life super quickly - and if you’re a creative, you know that intense sense of urgency one feels when an idea pops into your head!

9. How do you see art products being perceived in an Indian market?

I think the market is definitely developing to a point where there are more patrons for art based products, but I also feel like there is an inevitable issue with accessibility. On one hand - art based products take a lot of time and effort to put together, so they cost more to make. But that also makes them less accessible to some people who might want to buy in but do not have the means. There is a polarity that exists, but I think the solution may lie in educating people on the value behind the art - so that they can save up for a day when they would like to intentionally purchase it?

10. Your pieces often reference distinctly South Indian motifs like malli flowers, kaapi, and Madras checks. How important is this cultural grounding to your identity, and where do you usually draw inspiration for these themes?

All my life, I was constantly told that culture was “all or nothing”, which made me feel like it was super loaded. I think my cultural grounding is now happening on my own terms - in a way where I’m learning to approach it in a more unserious manner, but also understanding why certain things are so important to me, and others like me. I think my inspirations are definitely themes that make me feel a sense of belonging and home. Leaving home at 17, I constantly struggled with maintaining my cultural identity while living outside of Chennai.

11. You describe Unbaked as existing in an ‘aesthetically ambiguous space.’ Could you elaborate on what that means for you as an artist?

This term definitely has evolved in meaning for me over the years! Right now, I draw from the meaning of the word “Unbaked” - as something that is moldable, that can still change shape. I feel like this is all of us, but we so desperately try to put ourselves in neatly defined boxes. Why? We constantly want to define ourselves - our likes, our dislikes so clearly, almost black and white, but our decisions are already influenced by things we intuitively are drawn to. So for me, Unbaked is a space of exploration - letting myself listen to that intuition. Because sometimes you really don’t need to write down your “style” in order to define it. Sometimes it just happens, and you need to trust it!

12. As a brand  rooted in handmade techniques, how do you navigate an industry where mass produced goods is the preferred and is “the norm”?

Always find the right audience! With the right people, you’ll find so much love and support. I’m so lucky to have a wonderful community through the past 5 years. However,  I too sometimes find myself in the wrong spots - with people constantly bargaining and undervaluing my art. I’m trying to be better at it, but I don’t believe in treating my business like any other mass produced brand. I want to be selective, and create my community intentionally. Finding the sweet spot however, is the challenge. 

13. Polymer clay is quite central to your artistic identity. What drew you to polymer clay specifically, and what possibilities does it offer that other materials don’t?

I’ve experimented with quite a few materials but I don’t think I could stop using polymer clay. It’s become the lifeblood of unbaked! The medium is so so versatile - you can create almost ANYTHING with it and that’s what I love about it the most. The fact that I can create a finished product - by HAND, all by myself without having to be dependent on anyone else! There’s a sense of freedom in that, don’t you think? 

Obsessed already? Same. Shop Unbaked’s work and bring a piece of her world home, only on Kala Curry.