I am from India, and I was born in Livingston, Zambia.
MAGAZINE · INTERVIEW
Paul Matter
Paul Matter is a New Delhi–based lighting design studio founded by Nikhil Paul, whose practice explores the intersection of contemporary design and traditional Indian craftsmanship. Working across collectible lighting and objects, the studio creates sculptural pieces that balance form and function through a refined material language, combining aged brass, copper, stone, leather, and blown glass with meticulous handcraftsmanship.
Rooted in a dialogue between timeless design and material experimentation, Paul Matter collaborates closely with master artisans to develop objects that celebrate the enduring beauty of handmade production. Defined by sculptural forms, subtle detailing, and materials that acquire character over time, the studio’s work reinterprets traditional techniques through a contemporary lens, creating lighting that is both expressive and enduring.
Let's know more about
Interview
Where were you born and where are you from?
What is your first memory connected to the art world?
My first few memories were from my childhood and the architecture around me– my summer vacations were spent in Chandigarh, the city designed by Corbusier. The club that I used to visit with my parents was designed by Stein with lights from Gino Sarfatti. The massive tree outside my house when I was two or three years old. I would make attempts to draw it in every possible detail.
Have you always worked in the art/design field?
Yes, I have. Although I had trained briefly to become an engineer, I soon realised that design is my calling.
What led you to design creation?
This is something that I always wanted to do. Create things. As a kid, I used to notice everyday objects, dismantle them, and then attempt to remake them. My mother lost a lot of home equipment in the process. 🙂
How would you describe your creative process and its influences?
There is no definitive process. At times there is a clear inspiration, and at times ideas come while playing with materials. What I enjoy most is playing with my material and proportion. I enjoy a slow design process that allows us to live with our prototypes and make iterations over time. During this time, we go through a phase of editing and detailing to capture the essence of the original idea.
Could you describe a typical day of your work?
Sometimes my day starts at the workshop overlooking production and new product development, then I head to the studio. Sometimes it is the other way round. This is accompanied by a lot of coffee. My Workshop is where my heart is!
Why did you choose the specific materials you work with?
I get bored very easily … I want new mediums to keep me excited. Light is something that has endless possibilities, so it was a perfect choice for me. It can set different moods, although I believe the way we use light in our designs sets a certain kind of mood and quality. When I set out to design our first collection of lighting, it was very clear to me that I wanted to mix light with a material that is natural, resourceful, and allows it to age by itself over time. India has a huge history in brass and bronze, and it was a natural first choice to make a debut. We continue to experiment with materials. R&D is a constant at the studio. Leather is something that we are exploring next!
What are the technical particularities of your creations?
The devil lies in the details. Details are something that excites me. Could be hidden within the design, engineering, or the finish. Some of our designs are in constant dance with gravity. This is exciting too for me! We pay a lot of attention to the end user while designing.
What advice could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works?
There is no rule book. You can be first!
If your works had to belong to a design movement, how would you define it?
Not sure. Modernist era, I guess.
What designers and artists have influenced you?
I have enjoyed the journeys of designers who have come to India and created their design legacies. Corbusier, Stein, Eames, Ponti. I have also learnt a lot from the craftsmen of my country. In my early years after graduating, I had the opportunity to travel and carry out craft cluster projects across the country.
What contemporary designers do you appreciate?
So many! It is so hard to name one. What I appreciate most is when a designer or an artist is able to translate that unique quality onto their artwork successfully.
What contemporary artists, in any kind of art, have you been inspired by?
Same as above.
If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be?
Simplicity.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Forgive my spelling, and I am going to fix myself a drink for the next part of the interview.
“I enjoy a slow design process that allows us to live with our prototypes and make iterations over time.”
The Questionnaire
The Questions
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust.
Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde,
Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Italian gelato
What is your greatest fear?
Wow! havent given it much thought
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Overthink sometimes
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Too many options
Which living person do you most admire?
I admire traits of people around me all the time
What is your greatest extravagance?
Resources to make and experiment with
What is your current state of mind?
Excited to release new work and move into my new space
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Following rules
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Chivalry
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
So many. Resourcefulness
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
To each his own
Which talent would you most like to have?
Play a saxophone
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Be more social
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
So far the trek i did in sakleshpur , south india with deadly snakes wild elephants and bad weather
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
As a Camera
Where would you most like to live?
Keeps changine. It was an island last year, currently it is a Japanese village
What is your most treasured possession?
I havent posessed it yet. A Boat
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Not having faith
What is your favorite occupation?
Art/Design
What is your most marked characteristic?
Driven
What do you most value in your friends?
They should have my back
Who are your favorite writers?
Ayn Rand
Who is your hero of fiction?
–
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
–
Who are your heroes in real life?
My Mother
What are your favorite names?
N/A
What is it that you most dislike?
Self pity
What is your greatest regret?
Not had one yet
How would you like to die?
Healthy
What is your motto?
Life is now
“There is no rule book. You can be a first!”
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