Social Togetherness: Spandana Gopal
Spandana Gopal, the founder of Tiipoi, talks to twentytwentyone about life in lockdown, adapting to working from home and the music that inspires her day.
Social Togetherness: Spandana Gopal
Where’s home for you?
Currently NW8, but moving to lower Clapton soon.
What are the highlights of your home-working day?
Food has been a highlight and we’ve been eating and experimenting with different ingredients (wild garlic at the moment) Usually a glass of wine with lunch after a mat-based workout! My ‘workday’ usually starts at about 14:00 these days till about 18:00.
I keep staring at my literally unsolvable puzzle of white rice (also on the dining table taking up a lot of space) Take breaks to read books that I haven’t read - lots of design history books. The evenings have unfortunately been consumed by Netflix - Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul (which is excellent).
What creative pursuits are you doing now that you ordinarily wouldn’t manage if the world were at its normal pace?
I knitted some slippers and I tried to make objects out of vegetable pulp that didn’t go too well.
Are you learning a new skill, craft or hobby?
Refreshed my knitting skills. playing some songs on the piano - I learnt a song by Rhianna last week.
What positive change might come from Covid-19 for you, or your wider community, or the world at large?
The end of capitalism. We will go back to growing vegetables, trading clothes and goods, not travelling by air, but opening borders in new ways - maybe camper vans will be a thing of the future!
Any interesting projects, exhibitions or launches for later this year that you can share?
Not sure yet, but we think we continue developing products and working with interesting materials - maybe thinking up a new type of event where we can engage with our audiences through entirely new ways?
Given time to reflect, what would be your wish for a new piece of furniture or lighting?
More like a portable food-truck come shop which we could drive around London. Moving architecture for nice objects, food and people.
Any music or podcasts you would recommend?
I like the new Louis Theroux ones during Covid-19. There is one with Boy George just out. You can follow my Spotify playlist called ‘KARIPOT’ for all my fav tunes!
Many thanks to Spandana for taking the time to talk to us.
