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    We fell in love with artist Arzan Khambatta’s studio in Mumbai, which is straight out of a movie set!

    OCT 31, 2017 | By Nadezna Siganporia
    L-R:Arzan's iron, wood and copper sculptures rest against exposed brick walls and concrete flooring; Photographs by Pulkit Sehgal;An unfinished bust of Zarathushtra by Arzan; Photographs by Pulkit Sehgal;Part of a larger piece, this iron figurine, along with five others, is part of an installation for a bookshelf in a corporate cabin; Photographs by Pulkit Sehgal;Arzan Khambatta in his studio in Sewri, Mumbai; Photographs by Pulkit Sehgal

    A metal grilled facade and a repurposed iron door provides all the indication that you have reached Arzan Khambatta’s studio in Sewri, Mumbai.

    The unassuming exterior has no fancy signage, no flounce—in fact no name at all. It’s only once you enter that you are welcomed into a labyrinth of floor-to-ceiling sculptures, works in progress, and the happy clanking of men and machines creating absolute magic.

    And just like his studio, the artist is an energetic maze of ideas once you get talking.

    Arzan Khambatta in his studio in Sewri, Mumbai; Photographs by Pulkit Sehgal

    Natural progression His journey start from the grungy and raw “scraptures” and grew to well-received solo shows and public installations. Khambatta has since gone on to dabbling in filmmaking, photography, interior design and even stand-up comedy. “My career happened naturally…it has been a series of experiments that will never stop,” he says. And he needed the right space to do just that.

    Antique wood speakers and Arzan’s ink drawings are mounted on a fuchsia wall. On his desk are curios each with a story, including a restored Remington typewriter and a sculpture of his favourite vehicle, the Land Rover Defender, made by Argentinian sculptor Guillermo Forchino; Photographs by Pulkit Sehgal

    Structure in the chaos The studio is his temple—everything he stands for starts from here. It’s no wonder it’s packed with treasures and pieces in varying phases of completion. His cabin is filled with his photographs, framed 8,000 piece jigsaw puzzles and ink drawings.

    The “wall of fame” features carved wood figures of Leonardo da Vinci, Elvis Presley, Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi and Charlie Chaplin; Photographs by Pulkit Sehgal

    But that’s not all—a low marble topped table cluttered houses items each with a story of their own, and sketch books chockfull of intricate doodles that take on a life of their own. “Things may look cluttered but there is tremendous structure to it all,” he says, “…this studio is the contact point for my existence.”

    Scroll below for more images of Arzan Khambatta’s studio!

    An unfinished bust of Zarathushtra by Arzan; Photographs by Pulkit Sehgal

     

    On the floor is the carved wood, iron and steel piece titled No News is Good News. The framed catalogues from his shows on the walls, refer to his journey and evolution as an artist; Photographs by Pulkit Sehgal

     

    Part of a larger piece, this iron figurine, along with five others, is part of an installation for a bookshelf in a corporate cabin; Photographs by Pulkit Sehgal