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ShareBanglore: Most of us who are stirred by the Shakespearean idea of inner beauty, can't agree more that it rises above the external attributes of an individual. However, we all know that it's a daunting struggle to steer through the exterior to arrive at the 'beautiful you' inside. Let's now tell you that it's no longer such a struggle -- your 'inner beauty' can be styled, coloured and dressed on a plaque and hung up as a decorative piece in your office, living room or your bedroom.
For the first time in India, your DNA imprints (don't they comprise your inner beauty?) can be extracted to design suave yet funky pieces of art. It's even insured against plagiarism, what with your signature DNA imprint spread all over.
This idea germinated in Qadir Rangwala's mind during his visit to New York, where he saw this art in a gallery and "instantly identified with it and thought others would appreciate it the same way". Soon, his friend Nazim Ahmed and he tied up with DNA 11, India, in September 2008 and since then, only letting people extract and "frame their inner beauty" has been on their minds.
"What represents you better than your own DNA? Art that has a deep meaning and closeness to the customer has great potential. DNA art is individualistic -- has one's own DNA and therefore holds great meaning to the buyer," Rangwala elaborates, on the art and the business.
For someone who has always been interested in art and whose family has been in the business of dyes and chemicals, the tie-up with DNA 11 (The American Company that pioneered DNA art) meant taking it a leap further. This Mumbaikar, not confining his art to Mumbai, has clients all over the country, including Bangalore.
Aarti Narayanan, his client in Sadashivnagar from Bangalore, placed an order with him three months ago for her DNA artwork. Her choice was a single piece in black and red, 24 inches by 36 inches in size, says Rangwala.
"The art has been extremely popular in just its first year in India and this is evident by the great response we have got for it," he adds.
So how does one go about the process? "You'll find straightforward instructions in the collection kit we send out the day you place your order," Rangwala says. You can collect your DNA by swabbing a foam-tipped instrument on the inside of your mouth by which millions of cheek cells are picked up. This is then transferred to an FTA card which destroys everything except the DNA.
The DNA now "trapped, immobilised and stabilised for storage at room temperature" needs to be sent across to the Mumbai centre, to add colour to your "life". Clients can choose from a range of 25 colour combinations for their DNA that will be printed on "museum grade canvas and covered with a protective coating, to prevent scratches or sunlight" from harming it, all starting from Rs20, 000.
For DNA 11, showcasing inner beauty doesn't stop with DNA imprints. Their fingerprint portraits and kiss portraits that look extremely chic and make for interesting psychedelic impressions, which are great hits too.
Finally, has Rangwala himself tried DNA art? "Yes I have a portrait of my own DNA hanging in my bedroom," he concludes.
Check out the website: ww.dna11.com
