When Shamshuddin Shaik decided to pursue a rather peculiar passion – carving intricate doodles on egg shells, little did he know it would take him places. After having made it to the Unique World Records ’15 and conducting shows on his snazzy craft, this young Bengalurean will be a part of the eighth edition of a popular reality show. We catch up with him to know more…
Shamshuddin Shaik
“I started my egg art around three years ago, just as a hobby to whittle away time. I saw this on the Internet and it immediately caught my fancy. The entire process seemed interesting and challenging as it required a lot of patience and precision. Initially, it was very difficult as the egg shells are very delicate and break very easily.
But over time, I quite got the hang of it,” shares the 30-year-old finance order management specialist, who now moonlights as a carving artiste, holding a unique record for the ‘Longest Tower Made with Most Eggs’ sticking 20 carved egg shells on top of each other in a matter of seconds.
After having carved intricate works on duck eggs, chicken eggs, quail eggs, pigeon eggs and emu eggs, Shamsuddin soon found takers for his skill. “I’ve learnt that a nice piece of work will always be appreciated. I remember holding a small exhibition of sorts. And before I knew it, the word has spread and I found myself featured in the Unique World Records (a book published yearly) last June!” he says.
Speaking about the simplest of techniques and tools used in creating these works, he reveals, “I use high speed drilling tool for carving. And then just some acrylic paints and the regular stationery pretty much suffices. More than the tools, it’s the accuracy and the focus that matters.”
When he first starting out with the art, Shamsuddin reveals how a lot of acquaintances couldn’t relate to the art. “While my family has been supportive and very encouraging, people found it a little too silly at the start,” he quips, when asked about the initial reactions to his works.
While a full day job and a fledging passion take most of his time, Shamsuddin believes in indulging in his other passions. “I love nature and capturing the beauty of the universe on my lens. So when I have some time to spare, nature photography is what I love doing. Exploring different locales with family and digging into various cuisines are other things I love doing in my free time,” he explains.
Giving us a peak into what’s next on the anvil, he shares, “While there are quite a few interesting avenues and exhibitions lined up; at present, I’m all set to hold sessions on egg shell crafting for teenagers and young adults. Personally, it has helped me concentrate better, and is quite an interesting art that has takers today. I also hope to open up an art gallery consisting of my best works curated under one roof.”
