A Okhla studio takes carpets off the floor, turns them into walls, ceilings and art

In the scorching heat of June, artists at Mushk Cafe, a rooftop cafe in Old Delhi, were busy transforming carpets into walls, ceilings, and artistic installations. This unusual sight was a result of Qaleen Bhaiyya, a small studio in the bustling Okhla market, which specializes in turning carpets into unique wall and ceiling installations, mirror frames, and artworks. The studio's pieces are often combined with calligraphy, paintings, and gold detailing, all designed for a specific space.

The studio, started in February of the previous year, initially began as a small basement store before expanding to a larger ground floor location and eventually moving into its current space. Founder Taha Khan, a 30-year-old law graduate, emphasized that the studio aimed to be more than just a typical carpet and rug store.

Taha highlighted the Persian influences in Kashmiri carpets, which still carry the artistic essence of Iran. The studio primarily uses imported Iranian carpets due to their intricate detailing. One notable carpet, depicting the Kaaba, costs around Rs 3 lakh as a raw carpet and took nearly a year to hand-weave.

The studio's artists came together organically, with Manaal, an illustrator, Manaal and Ruqayya, a calligrapher, and Abdu Rahman, another calligrapher, all finding their way to the studio through Instagram and word of mouth. They all studied Applied Arts at Jamia and share a passion for unique, handcrafted art.

Much of the studio's work is tailored for specific spaces, with the team working closely with clients to discuss and develop ideas. The process for wall and ceiling installations is meticulous, involving measuring the surface, sketching the design, cutting the carpet according to the design, and bonding it into place using adhesive. The studio also creates framed calligraphic works, with calligraphy being handwritten by team members and then printed onto fine MDF or HDMR boards using CNC machines.

The core artists at Qaleen Bhaiyya initially met by chance, drawn to the studio's unique approach to art. Manaal, Ruqayya, and Abdu Rahman all studied Applied Arts at Jamia and share a love for innovative, handcrafted art. The studio's client base has grown significantly through social media, with framed works being sold to clients in the US, Canada, France, and Australia, as well as site projects in Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Surat.

However, Taha is cautious about scaling the operation, preferring to maintain the studio's character and limit its reach.