<b>The T&T explosion</b>

Sumit Tagra and Jiten Thukral on pop art, funky designs and dream machines that work
From projecting Indian homes inspired by Western architecture on canvas at the Tokyo Art Fair in April, to stopping over at Zurich in May for the promotion of the Puma reality bag, which features their illustrations along with creations by 100 artists from world over, and in June showcasing aspirations of young Indians desperate for a passage to America at the Basel Art Fair. It’s clear. Artists Jiten Thukral and Sumit Tagra are deluged with work. “A lot is happening and several projects are underway,” assures Tagra, as he plugs a Mac at the duo’s studio in Gurgaon. Seated comfortably on a leather chair next to him, Thukral nods, as they discuss specifics of upcoming shows. They provide us a sneak into them on their workstation, from where pop art-meets-funky designs are transported to canvases, installations and videos.

“We first design a creation on the computer and then make them physically,” says Tagra. “Both of us improvise on each other’ ideas,” Thukral smiles.
Not too long ago, the two improvised on each other’s dreams for the exhibition Somnium Genero02 (dream catcher) that took place in April at Gallery Barry Keldoulis in Waterloo. Painted in sky-blue backdrop, the semi-autobiographical canvases in the series had dream machines surrounded with typical T&T (Thukral and Tagra) clouds and floral patterns, with the artists themselves also finding place in some of the creations. “The series is close to our heart since it depicts our own dreams and memories,” smiles Tagra. Pointing at a golden rim dream machine on a canvas, Thukral says excitedly, “We are working with psychiatrists towards creating an actual wearable machine that can portray dreams by reading thoughts. The one who wears it can see his dreams on a screen.”

The talk of dreams leads to nostalgia and the two recall their first meeting — when Thukral ragged Tagra in college. Tagra was standing in the queue at the Chandigarh Art College, waiting to apply for a course there. Thukral, who was a student at the college, walked up to him, pretending to be an applicant. Few years on, the two met again at the Delhi College of Art and friendship struck, giving form to the moniker ‘Bosedk’ in 2003. “It happened over drinks with friends. We thought of designing stuff together. It sounded fun,” recalls Tagra. The Bosedk factory has since then been churning tees with funky one-liners riffed on Punjabi abuses and had even collaborated with Benetton for a collection.

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