Pooja Pawaskar
What does celebrating imperfection & impermanence through handmade objects found in nature look like?
My guest today does just that. Getting to talk about her creativity is giving me a full on *pinch me moment*…
I am so excited and honored to share my interview with the founder of whirl & whittle, Pooja Pawaskar, a wood artist based in Ontario; who highlights the beautiful flaws in the the wood and, reminds us to celebrate imperfections and impermanence.
At first glance, I notice the subtle unique organic markings and shapes of her pieces throughout the dreamy spread of her Instagram. For the last couple of years I’ve been following Pooja’s work and have completely fallen in love with her process, story-telling, and photography.
Let’s dive in, to get to know the artist and art behind whirl and whittle.
1) How/Why/When/Where did you realize you wanted to create your woodwork?
I’ve loved woodworking for as long as I can remember. I was introduced to it by my grandfather, who was a remarkable woodworker.
I learned about wabi-sabi in architecture school. After researching further, I realized that wabi-sabi was more than just pretty interiors and objects. It was full of pearls of wisdom that could help us come to terms with our flaws and perceived shortcomings. I slowly started creating things using this ideology. I instinctively gravitated towards wood because that is the material I feel most comfortable working with. I also like that each wood is different. Each wood is unique. And each wood presents other challenges, which makes things interesting.
2) Your work is so unique. If I saw it anywhere I would immediately know it was you. How does it feel to have created a signature style that people and collectors love?
Thank you! It feels incredible, but having a recognizable style was never my objective. I still don’t believe I have a style. You have followed my work for a while, so you know that I start with the story, and the design is usually the outcome of that. For me, it’s not about the style; it’s about what emotions it can evoke for the observer. And the result is usual quiet-looking pieces that speak loudly.
3) Tell me about how you build inspiration. Can you share where inspiration for one of your collections came from?
Sure! Inspirations usually come from things happening to me or around me. To give you an example, my first collection, ‘your scars are beautiful,’ was born from my own experience. About five years ago, I was carving my very first spoon. I was scared because I had no training. I was also mishandling the knife. I sliced open my palm during a relatively aggressive stroke, which led to a deep and painful cut. It was a lengthy recovery and left behind a scar. My husband, then-boyfriend, often saw me touching the spot. One day he came to me and said, “You did something scary, and you survived; this scar is a reminder of that.” It stayed with me. And years later, it turned into my very first collection. I wanted this collection to talk about our physical and emotional scars and how they can remind us of our strengths. For which, I worked with heavily scarred woods. The idea was to make people understand that scarred bodies can be equally, if not more beautiful, than bodies that have not gone through any transformation, any pain.
4) So many good things are happening for you. What has been the most exciting opportunity so far ?
It’s undoubtedly my latest collection of furniture pieces. I aspired to produce furniture for a long time, but I did not dare to go big. And in spring 2021, I got accepted for the ‘1000 vases’ exhibition in Milan. That acceptance was my permission slip. I took it and put myself to work. I had the story and the concept ready, which gave me a head start, and in less than three months, the collection was ready. It’s a small collection of 4 pieces I worked on during summer – a coffee table and three mirrors.
5) As an artist, I love learning about what makes other artists get excited to show up in their studios, and start making their magic. What’s your favorite part of the creative process?
The process in itself. Because I’m a designer and a maker, both the designing and the making part excite me. The design evolves at every stage to create a piece that is not just beautiful but has a brilliant way of challenging the status quo.
I hope you enjoyed learning about Pooja’s swoon-worthy wood works of art. Head over to her site and scroll through the stunning collections to view pieces that are being offered.
One more thing, Pooja is sharing a generous gift to my readers; please use code ‘CYNTHIA10’ for 10% off any order on whirlandwhittle.com. This offer expires at the end of 2021. Perfect for gifting, or for the cozy nooks in the home.
To follow along on color studies week, be sure to give the creators of this collaboration a follow; Neets, Cynthia Juhailey, Whirl & Whittle, and Evergreen & Aspen.
