Among the hits at Serendipity Festival — Bengaluru duo’s markers whose ink is made from air pollution

Curator of the exhibition at Serendipity, Sudarshan Shetty, was looking at innovations across walks of life, regions and genres when he came across Air-Ink. “We wanted all kinds of voices for the exhibition. Air-Ink looked like the beginning of something important,” says Shetty.

4 min readUpdated: Dec 25, 2019 07:22 AM IST

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Visitors at the ‘Air-Ink’ exhibition.

Can a pen change the world? At the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, Bengaluru-based Graviky Labs, displayed markers whose ink was made from carbon fuel emissions — a major cause of air pollution — and held out a promise of a clean environment.

Titled ‘Air-Ink’, it was also one of the shows that was shut down temporarily by the arts festival after visitors used the markers to write slogans against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) on white canvases covering the walls. The show was reopened on December 22, the last day of the festival, and proved to be a magnet with the visitors.

Nikhil Kaushik, co-founder of Graviky Labs, says, “Air-Ink has been a collaboration of science and art right from the start. For us, participation in art festivals has always been about introducing novel ways of addressing climate change to a larger audience in conjunction with different artists adding layers of their expressions on top of it.”

Graviky Labs was set up by Kaushik and Anirudh Sharma in 2016 with the idea of fusing technology, art and creativity to develop novel solutions to address global problems such as air pollution. Sharma was on a trip to Delhi during his post-graduation studies at the MIT Media Lab in the US when the idea hit him. “Standing on the streets of one of the most polluted cities in the world, where a passing bus’s exhaust is enough to make you change your shirt mid-day, I thought there had to be something that could be done with all that soot being released,” says Kaushik.

After several scientific experiments and research, the idea has been converted into a portfolio of industrial-grade inks and paints. “We work with several small and medium factories in north India to sequester their PM 2.5 and PM 10 pollution. The sequestered pollution is then treated and converted into inks and paints in Delhi and Mumbai,” says Kaushik. They are working on developing a capacity to manufacture up to one lakh litres of ink. “Most of the demand for Air-Ink products comes from developed economies. Air-Ink markers are exclusively sold at Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York. We love collaborating with artists across the world. More than 1000 artists having already used Air-Ink in more than 45 countries. Till date, we have shipped more than 12,000 pens,” he adds. In the pipeline are projects to bring sustainability to print, packaging and fashion industries through Air-Ink.

Curator of the exhibition at Serendipity, Sudarshan Shetty, was looking at innovations across walks of life, regions and genres when he came across Air-Ink. “We wanted all kinds of voices for the exhibition. Air-Ink looked like the beginning of something important,” says Shetty.

When the show was open, visitors used the markers through the day and covered the walls in graffiti in many handwritings. Shashank Saudagar, a visitor from Goa, balanced on a ladder as he wrote ‘Valar Morghulis’, which translates into ‘All men must die’ and is from Game of Thrones. Around him were scrawled ‘Love you for 1K years’ from the song A thousand years as well as statements such as ‘I Hate Plastic’ and ‘I Love Goa’. Political slogans ranged from ‘Azadi’ in a large font and the question, ‘If you don’t stand up today, what’ll you do when they come for you?’

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Kaushik added that they appreciate and encourage novel expressions. “At Serendipity, Shetty invited people to express themselves on blank canvases using Air-Ink. Participants left their impressions on love, solidarity, climate change, and also against NRC and CAA. We stand with the festival and support the right of the participants to peacefully express their disagreement and dissent,” he says. “As long as Air-Ink is not being used to incite violence, we do not see any wisdom in shutting down the exhibition,” adds Kaushik.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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