WAT PULP FICTION
Ihave always been fascinated by papier-mâché. This is one material which was in demand, before industrialisation led to mass production. I chanced upon this material when I was doing my diploma in Srishti School of Design. My goal is to try and get papier-mache into the mainstream. There are a variety of products one can make with this material, like bags, purses, baskets, bookshelves and folders. It’s mostly about combining paper with other products. By itself, paper may not be able to bear the weight of things but when combined with adhesive, varnish, terracotta and glass, it becomes more durable. I also ensure my creations are waterproof, can withstand pressure and are not fragile. Newspaper is one of my favourite materials to work with, since it is readily available. Another material I have started using extensively is leather. If you go to the outskirts of some cities, you will find leather tanneries that dispose huge amounts of leather. I use these to make bags, which are now very popular. Leather is also a very durable material. I want to explore different materials using innovative ideas and traditional methods to answer questions about responsible designing. Exploration and experimentation lead to hand-spun newspaper rope, woven into fabric and paper pulp, which is strong enough to build furniture completely out of newspaper. I want to explore the practicality of sustainable design and work closely with the idea of craft embodying design.
As told to Sindhuja Balaji