After creating a buzz with his quirky 3D interactive ‘Click Art Museum’ and ‘Vintage Camera Museum’, noted artist, photographer, producer AP Sreethar, brings yet another first-of-its-kind initiative to Chennai. Touted to be a first in the world, ‘Silicon Statue Museum’, akin to Madame Tussauds Wax museum, was launched by actress Keerthy Suresh recently in the city.
In fact, Keerthy did not light a regular lamp to inagurate the museum. Instead, she painted the wick on a massive painting of a Kutthu vilakku on a canvas painted by Sreethar.
The museum houses iconic personalities like Mother Teresa, Amitabh Bachchan, Michael Jackson, MS Dhoni, Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Chan, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Saibaba, among others.
On why he calls it the first of its kind in the world, Sreethar says, “No one has attempted a museum where silicon statues have been erected. Someone tried to do a single statue in Lebanon and in a few other countries, they have only one statue of their choice and did not have a collectors’ museum display for public to view and enjoy the experience. My ‘Silicon Statue Museum’ houses many legendary figures and I will be adding more. I am working on Kamal Haasan sir in his Vishwaroopam looks.”
He adds that he has challenged the 250-years-old Madame Tussauds Wax museum through this attempt. Silicon statues are better than wax and they replicate the real-life features of the famous personalities better, he says. “People who have experienced both, say that they feel the distinct difference. A lot of research is being done before I start my actual work”, Sreethar reveals.
The team working on the statues includes, Sreethar, who decides and draws the personalities, Ravi, who works on the statues, Dhaksha Dayalan, who does the costumes, and accessories by Vinodh.
Sreethar concludes by saying that he is dedicating the museum to all the celebrities who have brought a change in the society they live/lived in.
