Linde Freya Tangelder founded her studio Destroyers/Builders in Belgium in 2014, with a distinct signature blending the control of form with raw material experimentation. In 2023, Æquo invited her to extend this research in India, focusing on the metal repoussé technique. This traditional method, rooted in various cultures, involves shaping metal sheets over a mold, using materials like wax or wood. Inspired by Karnataka’s rugged landscapes, where granite boulders merge into new volumes, Linde embraced a primitive approach to repoussé. Rather than over-designing, she allowed the material’s inherent properties to dictate the process. Her work draws on central Indian architecture, and through this exploration, she developed a new approach to repoussé. Instead of thin metal sheets, she used thick German silver to envelop hand-carved teak wood blocks. Thanks to the gallery’s innovative partner workshop in Alibag, led by Jeevaram Suthar, this technique took shape. These blocks are joined by brass soldering, with the exposed welds serving as an honest, visual expression of the process. Hidden wooden molds provide structure beneath the metal surface, completing each piece.