As we enter 2026 amid global uncertainty, James Baird believes art provides comfort “not through escape but through recognition.” I ask about the role of art: of comfort, continuity, or challenge and the president of Irish linen manufacturer WFB Baird says, “Art often plays all three roles at the same time”. A spirit he pioneered in the recently launched Burgoyne Original Masters (BOM), a platform dedicated to creators in art, music, design and other fields.
James (centre) at the book launch. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
To commemorate the launch, the team has launched a coffee table book that brings together the voices of nine artists: designer Ashita Singhal; Storytellers Syed Sahil Aga and Shah Umair; visual artists Jayati Kaushik, Sachin Tekade, and Shivani Agarwal; Photographer Akash Das; Yoga teacher Seema Sondhi; and Kathak dancer Shivani Verma.
Shivani Agarwal, Visual Artist
For the last few years I have been making, expanding, bending and twisting common everyday objects like wire, thread and wood. Objects hold memory, time, function and as symbols of functionality are constantly challenged, dismantled, dismantled, dismantled or distorted for the sake of convenience and greed, whether from a personal, political or social perspective. Enlarged, distorted and distorted objects have their own stories; They talk about changing interventions, silent violence, helplessness and submission. I try to highlight these feelings and thoughts in my work.
On BOM: Such projects are important in the contemporary art scene because they value originality, innovation and rigor. BOM Burgoyne brings together voices that echo a common ethos and completes the picture uniting people from different creative fields who voice their authenticity.
James says art reminds societies that disruption is not a new concept and that creativity has always been around. “Every admired object from the past was created without certainty of outcome, yet holds meaning. Art also provides continuity, and preserves ways of making, thinking and seeing that move silently between generations. Craft traditions and artistic disciplines adapt to a changing world and capture what matters. This continuity reassures that culture does not disappear when circumstances change,” says the 69-year-old.
Book cover Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Having said that, James says that art presents a “gentle” challenge. “It demands focus, patience, and care in a world that often rewards speed. Emphasizing depth becomes especially important during uncertain moments. Burgoyne Original Masters exists in this space where comfort, continuity, and challenge are found through craft storytelling and dedication,” James says, adding that content for the second edition of the book will begin dropping in February 2026.
Shah Umair, storyteller
Design plays an important role in telling the story of heritage. When you look at design elements from the last century or so, there’s a certain purity to them. Every motif has meaning. It has underlying values, natural inspiration and often a sense of divinity. For me, the story of heritage begins with the observation of these details: a wall motif, a mihrab, the sanctum of a temple, the fresco of a palace. Each of these becomes a point of entry.
On BOM: Such initiatives enhance the goodwill of an artist and provide real benefits. I have always believed that when you are associated with a brand that has a legacy of over 100 years, that legacy reflects on you as well.
He explains that BOM also extends to the brand’s digital platforms through films, archives, and collaborations with festivals and cultural institutions. “BOM’s first partnership was with the India Art Fair 2025, and we also found resonance with the 25th edition of Jahan-e-Khusro organized in early 2025. We also partnered with Delhi Contemporary Art Week last year and presented Unwoven, a linen installation by artist Juhikadevi Bhanjdev,” he says.
Umair Shah Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
James sees BOM evolving into a storytelling and curation platform “for those who create with their hands, think with their hearts and shape the world with originality”. They have also launched the 2026 BOM Artist Grant, named Masters in Making which supports “emerging creators, particularly those working with heritage textiles and material memory, by providing time, resources and visibility without compromise”.
Shivani Agarwal, Visual Artist | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
At BOM, the spotlight is on creators, James says. “By partnering with leading cultural platforms and producing films, workshops and digital archives, we foster meaningful artistic dialogue. We also support emerging and established talent.” As for the book, he says the idea came about creating a property that could be “prominently displayed, sparking conversation and awe rather than just being read”.
Sachin Tekade, visual artist
In my work, I explore a range of visual elements such as architecture, texture, light, shadow and pattern. These visual components serve not only as formal devices, but also as metaphors reflecting geographical localities and internal psychological landscapes. At a deeper level, the work is rooted in the idea of discovery. I believe that everyone, in some way or another, is searching for something like clarity, purpose, belonging, or meaning. For artists in particular, this pursuit often becomes inseparable from their practice. Creating art becomes a way of understanding the world and one’s place within it.
On BOM: It reaffirms the importance of authentic human craftsmanship at a time when creativity is increasingly shaped by AI, automation and borrowed conceptual trends. India has a deep, vibrant tradition of hand-crafted art, yet many of the artists who dedicate their lives to original, tactile creations are underrepresented in mainstream cultural narratives. By celebrating artists who continue to work with their hands, this initiative restores balance in the way artistic value is defined. This highlights that mastery, discipline and physical intelligence are not outdated ideals, but essential foundations of an enduring art.
Over time, does Burgoyne envision creating a dialogue between old masters and contemporary artists? James says that this dialogue already exists within the “act of making”. “When contemporary artists work with inherited techniques, materials or forms, they are continuing the conversation rather than starting a new one. Our goal is to maintain space for this continuity. Juxtaposing established practices with emerging voices allows experience and experimentation to inform each other. One brings memory and discipline and the other brings curiosity and renewal. The intention is to recognize the masters as living influences whose values continue through material process and approach, ” James concluded.
published – February 03, 2026 12:40 PM IST