Journalism of Courage
Sculptor Bharati Pitre feels that papier-mâché as an art form is the perfect combination of the traditional and the contemporary
Papier-mâché,which is French for ‘chewed paper’,is a great medium for two reasons. First,one needs only waste material to make a sculpture of papier-mâché and second,this medium works best if one’s artistic slate is clean and has no previous experience of art, says Bharati Pitre. Having worked with this medium for 10 years,she has been holding workshops in papier-mâché over the past five. While conducting a,what she calls,hands-on workshop,Pitre says that papier-mâché is the perfect combination of the new and the old. The technique of making sculptures is very traditional,and even the adhesive and paints that I use are natural. However,the forms and shapes are very contemporary because of my urban upbringing, she explains.
Pitre’s initial foray into papier-mâché sculpting was very interesting. I was working as a commercial artist in an advertising firm in Mumbai then and I felt that as time moved on,I was missing out on a lot. I am very bad at technology and I had leanings towards fine arts,but then,in advertising,more and more computer-based graphics were being used. Around 10 years ago,I finally quit my job and it was at this time that I discovered papier-mâché, recalls Pitre.
She learnt the art form from Sharad Kumar,the grandson of the famous artist Ganga Devi,in a week,and after that started experimenting on her own. Papier-mâché is not an art form that one needs to learn for a long time. One needs only a week,and after that,its all about experimenting with the medium, she says. Even when I am conducting my workshop,I can only teach the basics after that,it’s up to the student to use it whichever way he or she wants to.
Pitre also feels that papier-mâché is a medium which has a lot of potential in India. It is a very economical art form,unlike other forms,where the materials can cost a lot. All a person needs,in order to do well,is to be good with his or her hands. However,the best part is its strength. Papier-mâché sculptures are very light but very strong. So strong,they are almost unbreakable, she smiles.
(Bharati Pitre will hold her workshop at the Art2Day Gallery,Camp,from April 22-24)
