In recent times we have a lot conventional materials being used in art. Artist Shanthamani M joined hands with Marc Thebault to create stunning works of art using a very conventional material, Bamboo. A collection rightly named B. Regins showcases art made with Bamboo.
Shanthamani was trying to explore bamboo as a material and the possibility of adopting it for an aesthetic purpose. She says, “There has been lot a of interest shown and inventions being done with bamboo- from using it instead of coal, fulfilling our wood requirements and more. My challenge was working with bamboo to use it in my creative works.” Marc Thebault, the other artist who has worked on this collection is a professor from Ensade, where students learn to use bamboo in designing. Shanthamani’s preoccupation was with the carbon aspect of bamboo. “The challenge was to change the concept and perception that bamboo is a very rigid material to work with. Marc really responded to Indian colours, vegetation, and village”. In her art piece “Drop of Ink”, she tried to use the lyrical elements seen at the Karnataka temple architectures.
Talking more about her collection she adds, “It is basically two people working and looking at the subject of bamboo and how we can adopt it in this collection. People thought I had used rubber and leather. Until they took a closer look or read about it, they couldn’t realise it was bamboo.” The challenge was not necessarily that the material dominates but the materials lends itself and create artwork. Shanthamani considers spectators to be very important for an artist. “No matter what you do it’s not complete until one truly responds to your work. I feel that my work and the material I use need to represent the time we are in be it political, cultural, geographical” she adds. If she is able to make people sensitive about these aspects then it’s fulfilling.
Shanthamani M
She feels that the art scene in city is very vibrant with a lot of different works emerging. “Although it’s vibrant, I feel that is no proper support system, no place to showcase, interact, structure, art centre or museum” she adds. For art collectors there won’t be any issue of durability as bamboo is quite strong. And for art enthusiasts there is a lot of work to understand as very current issues discussed.
Marc Thebault
On what it was like working on this collection she says, “While working on this collection we had to try and understand the material and make it a work of art. The journey was about taking a material and makes it work in way that it remains in aesthetic appeal” she concludes.
The collection is currently on display at Gallery Sumukha from 9th December to 13th January
