The community space beneath the Axis Mall flyover became transformed to a magical realm with a Harry Potter-themed art and craft sale taking place over three days earlier in the month.
Aptly titled Chamber of Wizarts, inspired by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second book of J.K. Rowling’s series on the boy wizard, the event brought together young artistes and entrepreneurs.
Visitors walked in under a platform 9 ¾ sign, next to a standee with a brick-work wallpaper, as if making it through the magical wall at the King’s Cross station. Potterheads clicked selfies next to replicas of the Firebolt broom or the magical Mirror of Erised. There were framed paintings and T-shirts on sale on Potter themes like Harry himself and the coats of arms of the Hogwarts houses.
A replica of Firebolt, Happy Potter's Quidditch broom
The event was organised by a five-member art entrepreneur team called Magenta. “My elder brother Shatanik is the artist of the group. He chooses the products to display from what the participants bring to our events. Our company is just one year old,” said Shweta Dasgupta, a Barasat girl.
Paintings, resin work, jewellery, clay model etc are chosen based on the theme decided for the event. “Though the focus is on hand-crafted items, we allow participants to sell some digital art too,” she said.
Sisters from AK Block, New Town Smriti and Preksha Jain were thus selling digital stickers of the Hogwarts world and anime figures. They also had cards with Potter motifs painted by them which were being sold for Rs 300-400.
New Town AK Block sisters Smriti nd Preksha Jain at their table of Potter wares.
Another sister duo of Yamini and Prachi Bansal from Liluah, Howrah had brought hand-made bookmarks, chocolates with golden paper wings added to make them look like a Snitch in a Quidditch match, flipbooks, polaroids of stars etc.
Sisters Suchismita and Suchishubhra Bagchi sold small easel paintings on themes like Patronus, Hogwarts Express etc. “Such products are affordable at Rs 200-350 . Far cheaper are the bag tags,” Suchismita said.
An item that sold briskly, despite being priced at Rs 499, was a series of hand-crafted miniature wands. “Replicas of the Elder Wand that belonged to Dumbledore sold the most,” Sweta said, as another stall owner bought a Hogwarts T-shirt from her stall.
This is their fifth event in a year after three on the theme of the post-Impressionist artiste Vincent Van Gogh. “We have held events earlier in RDB Boulevard, the pedestrian plaza, in Sector V, and at the Coffee House in New Town,” Sweta informed.
Though footfall suffered on Saturday due to a mild shower, Sunday witnessed bumper sales.
