Weaving style and sustainability into every handmade koodai. Thats Wire Kadai for you.
1. Tell us a little about yourself—who you are, what you do, and how art became a part of your journey.
I am Mirnalini, I run Wire Kadai and I also head projects for a Non-profit, I am also a parent to an 8 year old. I have always been inclined towards art and have dabbled quite a bit in painting, stitching and now knotting baskets, this initially started as a form of therapy during trauma counseling after the loss of my mother. This also gave me an opportunity to work with our family friend Pushpa akka who knotted lovely baskets.
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?
I started my career with Non-profits through Nalandaway foundation, which is a non-profit that offers intervention through arts to children from marginalised communities. This gave me first hand experience to understand how much art can help overcome difficult situations. For me art is in the details, it is a form of meditation, a way of life. From the small things that are done everyday at home, say a kolam, to creating a recipe, it is the mundane things. It is the background white noise that keeps us functioning.
3. Why do you think handcrafted art matters today more than ever?
We live in trying times, truly. There is disaster, trauma, crashing economy. We all need something to reorient us and to stay sane we need to resort to calming quiet activities that are done by hand. This will restore balance. We are also living in the day of 10 min delivery where we have no patience to wait. Handcrafted art is true luxury, it takes time, there is no ten min delivery, one has to wait. The knots, the strokes, the churns take time and effort. We need to understand the overconsumption and mass production is harmful on the longer run. Handcrafted art and making it accessible is more important than ever.
4. How many years have you been practicing this craft?
2 yrs now
5. What makes an artist an artist? (like who can call themselves an artist/what counts as being an artist)
Very subjective, a child scribbling on the wall is an artist for a mother, someone who can cook a great meal is a true artist. Anyone who has the patience, intent, and can put effort into creating something is truly an artist.
6. What does being an artist/brand that sells art mean to you?
There is a lot to a business that just creating art, esp in today’s day and age, someone who can create can’t stop at creation, they should also know to sell, create reels?! Put themselves out, stand at a pop-up and talk about art, understanding how to price art esp when it is a commodity. Trying to do all this while being ethical is a hard skill to master.
7. How long does it usually take to create one piece from start to finish?
Depends on the size, type of knot. From anywhere between 10 hrs to 10 days. But roughly a tote koodai can take about 18-20 hours of time if done with no distraction.
8. What drew you to the medium(s) you work with?
This is an ode to my mother who loved koodais, it is also the symmetry of a koodai and a lot of nostalgia. Koodais were (are) quintessential to Tamilnadu and it kindles so many memories for anyone who grew up here carrying lunch dabbas to school in a koodai. It is sturdy, everlasting and the colours, patterns one can create are infinite.
9. How do you see art products being perceived in an Indian market?
It is gaining momentum, there is still not much of great respect for handmade products because we are so used to buying them for cheap but slowly people are respecting artists, there are also large studios appropriating work of native artists without crediting them which is quite sad.
10. Koodais have such a strong value in India. Do you remember the first time you saw or owned one, and how that memory shaped the way you create today?
Grew up carrying lunch dabbas, then Pushpa akkas koodais which have been at our homes forever. We also had koodai chairs growing up, which are now recreating. These are all very nostalgic and nostalgia is very powerful.
11. Wire Kadai blends a very traditional craft with modern design. What has been the most exciting thing (could also be a challenge) in reimagining koodais for a contemporary audience?
To create pieces that are unique, that are very new age and trendy, yet sticking to roots was hard. It shouldn’t be heavy, yet should have sturdy handles, something that won’t hurt the shoulders. Colours that can be carried to workplaces and corporate settings. Trying to take away the perception that it's not just a marketbag but beyond that.
12. Every Koodai is handmade and one-of-a-kind. How do you balance the artisan’s individuality and creativity with the need to keep some design consistency?
We have ladies who are ready to experiment with colours and try new designs and want a challenge, we also have ladies who want to do only one thing. It is mostly about meeting markets demand but it also is important to showcase their creativity, we always let them make something with flow and luckily have found an audience who will indulge us.
13. Again, in relation to the heritage weavers and women artisans, what changes have you seen in their confidence or community life since being part of Wire Kadai?
Getting fair wages means so much for all us, I don’t negotiate with our artisans, they call the price. And there are absolutely no delays in payments, because this is their livelihood, for some this is their extra income, the money that they can save, they can invest, some have bought gold, have taken a vacation or bought things for their family or kids from their own money for the first time. These are confidence boosters and literally what inspires me every single day.
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