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Claire Wood, the creative designer and paper artist behind Carta & Wood, a design studio specialising in paper art, installations, events and set design, was asked to reimagine the V&A’s main store with an awe inspiring ceiling installation. Commissioned to coincide with the new exhibition, The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence, the installation dazzles with its rich colours, intricate details, and handcrafted artistry.

Hanging delicately from ceiling grids, the installation is a colourful spectacle that draws inspiration from the opulent craftsmanship, intricate patterns, and lavish aesthetics of the Mughal dynasty. Reflecting the exhibition's themes and the seasonal items stocked in-store, the installation uses an innovative medium: paper. Simple elements such as fruit, beads, and fabric ruffles have been transformed into sophisticated sculptural forms through a blend of traditional and modern techniques.

The installation showcases a series of tessellated giant fruits, including pomegranates, lemons, oranges, grapes, and sliced open fruits that reveal intricate interiors. Complementing these are giant hanging beads adorned with layered patterns, sculptural ruffle forms, and delicate tassels. Each piece is handcrafted with meticulous attention to detail, employing scoring, folding, curling, pattern cutting, embossing, and layering techniques. These methods bring the textures and vibrancy of Mughal art to life, mimicking architectural geometry and reflecting the era’s fascination with detail, pattern, and repetition.
To achieve this breathtaking display, Claire chose Keaykolour papers, renowned for their rich earthy tones and exceptional quality. Selecting the shades Indian Yellow, Pumpkin, Guardsman Red, Prune, China White and Royal Blue, the range offered ideal options for various crafting needs, from thinner papers for curling and bending to thicker card stock for robust tessellated structures. The shimmering Curious Metallics shade of Super Gold was also selected to enhance the installation.
Claire commented, ‘The papers were incredible to work with; the range was versatile and durable. The different weights were brilliant to cut by hand and machine, had quick absorption when gluing and held shapes well when sculpted. The thick card stock was also well suited for laser cutting, ensuring precision in even the most intricate designs.’

By transforming everyday elements into richly detailed sculptures, the installation captures the Mughal essence of opulence. The vivid, earthy tones and geometric patterns bring warmth and sophistication to the store, offering shoppers an immersive experience that bridges art, culture, and craftsmanship.
Keaykolour is a leading brand of carbon balanced, premium quality fine paper products, offering a diverse range of 45 colours and weights from 120 to 450 g/m2, ideal for creative and professional applications.
The Curious Metallics colour palette offers timeless and classy shades with subtle graduations and shimmering hues. Like all Antalis’ creative paper ranges, Curious Metallics is carbon balanced as standard via World Land Trust.
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