KAUSTAV DEY

SITTING AGAINST A PATTACHITRA FROM ODISHA, DRESSED IN HIS FATHER'S BENGALI DHOTI, A KASHMIRI PHERAN, AND ΑΝ ANKLET-TO KAUSTAV DEY, STYLE HAS ALWAYS ΒΕΕΝ "EXCRUCIATINGLY PERSONAL", A MEDIUM OF EXPRESSION AND IDENTITY, WHETHER ON HIMSELF, OR IN HIS HOME IN BENGALURU.

- DIVYA MISHRA

KAUSTAV DEY IN HIS LIVING ROOM. HE'S WEARING A RAJESH PRATAP SINGH SHIRT: A HAND-EMBROIDERED PHERAN FROM SRINAGAR, KASHMIR, A SILK CRINKLED BENGALI DHOTI (HIS FATHER'S), SILVER ANKLETS FROM VARANASI, AND A HANDWOVEN BANARASI SHAWL FROM ANJORA, VARANASI. THE VINTAGE SOFA WAS ACQUIRED FROM JEW STREET IN KOCHI AND RESTORED; THE CARPET IS FROM MIRZAPUR. THE SIDEBOARD BEHIND THE SOFA IS A RESTORED ELECTRICIAN'S CABINET. ON TOP OF IT IS A FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH TITLED TWO LITTLE GIRLS, BY PHOTOGRAPHER SUDARSHAN CHARI. NEXT TO IT IS A VINTAGE POSTER OF NORMAN ROCKWELL'S BOY ON STILTS WITH A DOG FROM DE NEGEN STRAATJES, AMSTERDAM. IN FRONT OF THEM ARE A FRAMED POSTCARD FROM ORHAN PAMUK'S MUSEUM OF INNOCENCE IN ISTANBUL: A WOODEN MASK FROM THE RUMTEK MONASTERY IN SIKKIM; A MINIATURE DOORWAY FROM THE FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE IN KYOTO, JAPAN. THE CALLIGRAPHY ABOVE THE SIDEBOARD IS FROM THE OUTSKIRTS OF KYOTO THE VINTAGE VEENA IS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM; THE TANJORE PAINTING, VENNAI THAZHI KRISHNA, BY ARTIST VISHNUPRIYA RAVI IS FROM CHENNAI; THE LARGE PATTACHITRA ON THE WALL DEPICTING THE BIRTH OF GANESHA, IS FROM PURI, ODISHA.

THE HAND-PAINTED PORCELAIN PLATE IS FROM ISTANBUL; KAUSTAV USED HIS MOTHER'S PATOLA SARI AS A RUNNER. BELOW: SEATED ON A VINTAGE ARMCHAIR HE ACQUIRED FROM JEW STREET IN KOCHI AND RESTORED, KAUSTAV IS WEARING A DRESS SHIRT FROM GIORGIO ARMANI, TROUSERS FROM HILFIGER COLLECTION, AND A PEARL CHOKER FROM LAAD BAZAAR, HYDERABAD.