As the blinds rise at the Hermès boutique at Jio World Plaza, we are ushered into a magical universe of India’s miniature artistry, now rendered in a new, expansive three-dimensional reality. Miniature artist Sukanya Ayde’s A Prince, A Parrot, and A Horse depicts a beloved tale of friendship, executed playfully yet with artistic precision. The first window draws you into a lush, deep forest with the three protagonists, and the second window, the opulent palace. The prince, symbolic of royalty and lineage, watches his horse drink from a decorative tray. The stallion, a worthy companion, is a nod to Hermès’s equestrian roots, a heritage that began with harness-making in 1837. Perched on a crescent moon is the parrot, a storyteller and the artist’s muse.
Sukanya Ayde
“It becomes a stage where these characters reflect the Hermès spirit: craft and culture brought to life through dialogue between tradition and modernity, object and narrative, art and storytelling,” says Ayde, who started working on Hermès’s 2025 theme, ‘Drawn to Craft’, in January, delving into the Maison’s iconic symbolism — the horse, the carré, the lock, the harness — merging them seamlessly with her own visual language.
As Hermès’s global footprint stretched across the globe, its collaborations with local artists bloomed.
The back story
Hermès’s whimsy-infused window displays began by happenstance in the 1930s. A young sales assistant, Annie Beaumel, stepped in to replace the rather decorous window manager who called in sick. She infused a slice of joie de vivre in the windows by hanging a saddle upside down, ushering in an age of unrestrained imagination. Beaumel curated ethereal windows, including special ones with artists such as Jean Cocteau, Christian Bérard, and Tsuguharu Foujita, and occasionally, provocative displays that included real horse droppings for sparrows to feast on. As Hermès’s global footprint stretched across the globe, its collaborations with local artists bloomed. With India emerging as the epicentre of global luxury, the maison has, over the years, commissioned women artists Sumakshi Singh, Aradhana Seth, sister duo Aashika and Tanishaa Cunha, Yashika Sugandh, and now Ayde to create remarkable window displays for their boutiques in India.
Hermès’s whimsy-infused window displays began by happenstance in the 1930s.
Art from the archives
A history graduate from St. Stephen’s College, Ayde has a degree in Fashion and Textile Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Deeply inspired by nature, her work is influenced by traditional Indian art, particularly Rajasthani miniature art, from the Kota and Bundi regions. — their lush forests, inky black skies, and dramatic hunting scenes. “Miniature art gives me the space to not just replicate the rawness of nature, but to reimagine it from my perspective. It creates a synergy between my observation and imagination. I enjoy allegorical themes that come with painting nature, such as the calmness of a lotus pond or the turbulence in a stormy sky…the longing in a monsoon cloud,” she says.
Perched on a crescent moon is the parrot, a storyteller and the artist’s muse.
Bringing the artwork to life required several iterations, adds Ayde, arriving at something that felt both true to her work and aligned with Hermès. “This shift from 2D to 3D was a different journey for me, one that challenged how I think about scale, perspective, and movement. I wanted to bring out the elements that are central to the miniature style — landscapes, depth, intricacy, and alter them into a three-dimensional form,” she says.
“Miniature art gives me the space to not just replicate the rawness of nature, but to reimagine it from my perspective. It creates a synergy between my observation and imagination. I enjoy allegorical themes that come with painting nature, such as the calmness of a lotus pond or the turbulence in a stormy sky…the longing in a monsoon cloud”Sukanya AydeMiniature artist
Most of the structures are made from MDF boards coated in white, and then painted with acrylic paints. Ayde worked with a team of master miniaturists from Jaipur. “All three artists have been practising this form of art for decades. They brought a certain authenticity to the project” she says. ”
When someone pauses before these windows, what feelings does Ayde hope they carry back with them? “I hope to take them on a journey of discovery, where they notice the intricate detailing unfolding amidst lush foliage, flowering plants, and tranquil water features,” she says. Perhaps it will transport them to a place of reflection, beauty, and calm amongst the chaos of everyday life.
Most of the structures are made from MDF boards coated in white, and then painted with acrylic paints.
A Prince, A Parrot, and A Horse will be on display till January 15, 2026, at the Hermès Jio World Plaza store.
The writer is a sustainability consultant and founder of Beejliving, a lifestyle platform dedicated to slow living.
Published – October 24, 2025 06:32 pm IST