Art on 77 Bags is a Chai Tamaasha

InJanuary 2014 I was working on two art projects, which required of me to create an artwork with recycled materials for an exhibit and chai-based illustrations for a digital magazine. I was consuming many cups of tea as I worked, when the beautiful stains on the teabags grabbed my attention and left me in awe. The tiny soggy teabag sat quietly on my dish staring at me for some love,” shares Ritu Dua. She recently moved (from Dubai) to Mumbai, India, where she took part in the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2016 and exhibited an art installation titled My Chai Tamaasha, which was made with 1,500 teabags. Also, recently she held two solo exhibitions titled Feelings 77. “A feeling a day expressed on a used teabag for 77 days.” Plus, each work was accompanied by a short poem. It goes without saying she recycles every single teabag. Does she have any favourite tea brands? “No. Though, their texture and size may vary, but in the end they all serve as my canvas.” At times she is able to finish a work in just a couple of hours, while more intricate ones take days. Her tools include mixed media, pen and ink, watercolours, and acrylic paints. “I have even tried embroidery on a few pieces.” She treats the teabags so that they don’t rot away, before converting them into a piece of art and framing them. “In case a client wants a bigger piece I join the teabags and customise to suit their requirements. “It is a time consuming process and needs a lot of concentration, but at the end of the day, each miniature piece stands apart. I absolutely love the feel of teabags, their feather-like lightness, and soft textures!”