Vihar speaks to Blur The Border :

Blur : Your practice is notably broad, spanning two different cultures, mediums (porcelain, wood, glass), and disciplines (furniture, digital art). As an artist with such a dynamic range, what draws you to move between these different forms, and what is a common thread that ties all your work together?

Vihar : My practice moves fluidly between materials and mediums because it's a way for me to tell stories through different languages. Whether working with physical materials or digital tools, I’m drawn to how ideas shift character when translated through different processes. For me, each material and medium carries its own rhythm and history, and engaging with them allows me to tell stories that feel both personal and universal.

The dialogue between Indian and Scandinavian sensibilities forms the foundation of my sensibility. I aim to merge these worlds to find balance between expression and silence, tradition and clarity. What connects all my work is the pursuit of meaning beyond function: creating objects that are experiential, evocative, and part of a larger ecosystem of ideas. Each piece becomes a small reflection of how I wish the world to feel—rooted in craft, yet open to imagination.

Blur : How does the environment impact your work and fuel your creativity?

Vihar : The environment deeply shapes my way of thinking and making. Growing up in India surrounded by ornament, craft, and warmth gave me a sensitivity to detail and narrative, while living in Scandinavia introduced me to clarity, restraint, and silent grace. These two worlds continuously inform my work, one fuels expression, the other balance. Nature, light, and atmosphere play a quiet role too I think, they ground the design process and remind us that every creation exists in dialogue with its surroundings, objects don't have to live in isolation.

Blur : Do you have a definitive process while creating? Are there any habits or rituals that help you get into a creative mindset?

Vihar : I don’t have a strict process. I draw inspiration from architecture, nature, and music, and most ideas begin as a quick sketch on paper. Drawing helps me translate what I feel into form, and from there, the process is dynamic.

Blur : Given your education in both Vadodara and Helsinki, what similarities or shared values—despite their geographical and cultural differences—have you observed in their approaches to design and art?

Vihar : I observe both Indian and Nordic design sensibilities share a deep respect for honesty in material, craft, and purpose. In India, design often carries emotion, ornament, and storytelling ,in the Nordic context, it reflects clarity and restrained grace. Though their expressions differ, both seek meaning and connection through simplicity and intention. I find beauty in how each, in its own way, celebrates the history, human touch and the life around it. 

Blur : In your recent project, Resurgence, exhibited at the India Art Fair, the porcelain sculptures bring together the ornamentation of traditional Indian architecture and Scandinavian minimalism via 3D technology. Could you take us through how this creative fusion of digital and handcrafted forms took shape, and how you managed the technical upskilling required for the 3D work?

Vihar : In Resurgence, I wanted to explore how ornamentation could be expressed in a more universal, abstract way, bridging the richness of Indian decorative traditions with the clarity of Scandinavian minimalism. The work began with sketches and conceptual exploration, and digital tools helped me visualise and refine the forms before moving into porcelain. While the pieces are precise and detailed, the materiality and craft remain central, each vessel was realised through traditional methods like slip casting. Learning the digital techniques was a process of experimentation and curiosity, always guided by an understanding of material and form, rather than the technology itself. For me, the fusion was about dialogue letting contemporary tools enhance traditional craft, without letting them overshadow the tactile, human aspect of making.

Blur : As your work has evolved—moving from your early pieces to your recent sculptures—you have maintained a strong connection to Indian cultural insights. How can upcoming artists tap into these cultural aspects while simultaneously making the work relatable and resonant with a global audience?

Vihar : I think with globalization, design is becoming increasingly universal, and as a designer, I see this as an opportunity to explore how cultural insights can resonate beyond their origin. For me, the key is not to replicate the past, but to reinterpret it—whether through storytelling, functionality, or visual language—so that it speaks to today’s world. Commercialisation also plays a role, shaping how design reaches people and how craft finds new contexts. I believe it’s essential to respect the roots, drawing inspiration from tradition, while presenting it with a contemporary vision that honours the past but looks forward, creating work that feels both culturally grounded and globally relatable.

Blur : You have exhibited your works in countries with different cultural nuances. Have you noticed differences in how audiences in these contexts engage with or respond to your work?

Vihar : In India, people connect with the narrative, noticing familiar shapes that make the work instantly relatable. In Japan, the focus is often on the process itself and how it shapes the final outcome. In Europe, there’s curiosity about discovering a new culture through the work. It has shown me that the same piece can be experienced in very different ways while still speaking a universal language.

Blur : Digital  art has long been part of your visual language. Looking ahead, what potential do you see in the merging of both these aspects, and how might this shape the future of art and design?

Vihar : I see enormous potential in merging digital and physical practices, as the boundaries between these realms are already becoming blurry. For me, the tactile nature of materials remains central, but digital tools allow exploration of form, scale, and narrative in ways that were previously impossible. I think there are endless possibilities to tell new stories through this fusion, creating work that feels both immediate and imaginative. I’m excited to continue learning how to navigate this dialogue between materiality and digital expression.

Blur : You have collaborated with a furniture designer in the past—if you were to work with artists outside your own discipline again, what kind of collaboration would you be most excited about?

Vihar : One of my biggest interests is architecture, and I would love to collaborate with an architect someday. I find it fascinating how objects interact with space and human experience, and working together could be a great way to explore how objects and ideas live within and shape their surroundings.