From the Ambani wedding to Mumbai ceilings and Ahmedabad homes: Priyanka Thaker’s art knows no limits

From the murals at the Ambani wedding to the Mediterranean-inspired retreat by Studio Dashline and the striking Coimbatore home by Muse Lab, Priyanka Thaker of House of Berserk channels architectural rigor into forms that defy expectations. Architecture+Design sits down with Priyanka to delve into her creative journey, design philosophy and the stories behind her works.

What inspired you to establish House of Berserk?

I have a simple life philosophy: to write, draw, build, play, dance, and live as only you can. I believe that we might not be the ones to change the world. We might not belong to the few who “put a ding in the universe.” We might not be something the whole world would celebrate. But in the little corners where we live, in the lives that we’ve played a part in, we should be nothing but unforgettable. That’s what led me to establish the House of Berserk.

How would you describe your artistic style?

Most of my work is narrative-based, exploring identity and its fluxes, with the distinctive artistic style centered around colours. For me, color is a vital element, like water or fire. It is not just an emotion but an energy vital to my practice—a holistic way of healing.

Below the surface of House of Berserk’s solid, bold colours and black lines is an artist’s inquiry into the role of artist and viewer, where a work of art is more than an object of admiration disconnected from its inception.

In our works, the saturation and recklessness of this language of colours communicate with tremendous intensity the ambiguous phenomenon of role, simultaneously representing the absence of any discernible expression.

Can you walk us through your design process for a project?

Art is supposed to facilitate a richer dialogue within the space, its occupants, and visitors. So, more than simply working around the client’s taste, I prefer tapping into their collective memories and translating them into more tangible works.

We start by understanding our clients better through a quirky questionnaire. This assists us in getting an insight into their making—what they are made of and their aspirations for where they are headed.

This, in turn, helps in building the brief.

Then comes ideation, where we try and draw parallels from the multiple narratives our history and mythology are laden with, translating them into relatable icons and motifs.

Then the first draft is ready for the client to see.

Post that, it’s a back-and-forth in layering until we’re ready for execution.

What emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke through your art?

How one yearns to come back home—that’s what we aim to evoke: a sense of belonging, safety and joy. We wish to create a moment of pause when someone witnesses our work, hoping it will offer some respite in their lives from the drudgery of our daily existence.

Do you have a preference between working on wall murals or installations? How do you approach them differently?

I think versatility is my strength. Versatility of mediums is just a byproduct of not wanting to be stagnant in being labelled as a mural artist, sculptour or painter. Because a definitive label in life diminishes the potential and limits one to live a smaller life.

And that’s one of the foremost reasons the studio practice has been constantly and consciously dancing its way through, reinventing itself and pushing boundaries of storytelling, along with exploring newer materials and forms, right from large-scale wall murals to sculptures, installations, and canvases.

Murals are always going to remain closer to my heart. The sheer scale of them. I love physically engaging work. Where the joy is in the execution.

What’s the most memorable feedback you’ve received about your work?

The most memorable feedback was a gift from one of our clients, Julhaa Sarees. A Surat-based multi-generational saree store. They gifted me a Baluchari silk saree as a token of gratitude. The clients said that the saree will be a reminder of the value we added to their lives. Whenever and wherever I wear it, they will feel they are a part of that special occasion too.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not creating art?

Of all the hobbies in the world, I chose the most inaccessible one: diving. That helps me navigate paradox, ambiguity, and complexity and gravitate towards a higher vantage point. Sometimes all you need is decluttering of thoughts, and being under water offers me just that. I take a diving trip every four months, enough to sustain me for the next four when I am on land.

And on a regular day I prefer unwinding with a negroni, maybe two. Check in on my friends. Read or take a small trip around Bengaluru.

Which upcoming project are you most excited about, and why?

This year was some of our biggest feats. From being commissioned to do 164 hotel rooms in Jamnagar for the Ambani pre-wedding to painting an eight-storey facade for HCG hospital in Ahmedabad. And right when we were wondering if we had done it all, for the remaining part of the year we got some very interesting and intense projects lined up.

In October we are embarking on an adventure for the 4th edition of the Wall Art Festival of the network of Alliances Françaises in India (15 AF) in link with the French Embassy in India. We will be painting in 4 cities over a period of 20 days.

A residence in Mumbai with Design Hex where we are exploring and layering an entire mural with three materials —hand-painted mural ferrocement and metal— trying to seamlessly blend it all together

A design endeavour with MuseLAB where we are unleashing our Michelangelo by painting a 600 sq ft ceiling. To tie the space seamlessly, we have gone to the extent of designing door partitions and floor inlays, etc.

For a project in Ahmedabad, we have for the first time ventured into styling and sourcing along with doing the artworks for the residence.

Whether it’s the grandeur of the Ambani wedding, the intimate corners of Coimbatore homes, or the bold murals that challenge perceptions, Priyanka’s creations remind us that art is not just seen—it’s felt. As she continues to push boundaries, experimenting with mediums and narratives, one thing is clear: the world is her canvas, and she’s painting it unapologetically bold.

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