Art that has wheels

12 wood carvers from Mahim Causeway have collaborated with a German artist to create carved wooden skateboards that are up for viewing and sale at a hip Lower Parel art gallery. Fancy

12 wood carvers from Mahim Causeway have collaborated with a German artist to create carved wooden skateboards that are up for viewing and sale at a hip Lower Parel art gallery. Fancy

Great art often emerges from not-so-great conditions. English poet William Blake died in poverty. Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh sold just one painting in his life.

Despite the precedent, a crowded wood workshop along the chaotic Mahim Causeway is not where you expect to find unusual intricate works of art good enough to be exhibited at an upmarket contemporary art gallery.

Tobias Megerle and Javed Khan at an afternoon workshop.
Pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi

Final Cut, a merger of skateboards and traditional woodwork, created by wood carvers of Mahim, is on view at The Loft since Friday. Curated by German artist Tobias Megerle, it's part of an ongoing project titled Solicited Perspectives, which will nurture young curators.

Under Megerle's vision, 12 wood carvers are now proud creators of a carved wooden skateboard each, in an attempt to create a work of art unlike the functional engraved furniture that their vocation demands they churn out.

"I met them in September last year, and the last skateboard was finished this February," says Megerle, who has been in Mumbai for two years, and was struck by the idea of collaboration when he saw the carvers at work as he would drove by each day.

"They were apprehensive at first, but when a couple of them got interested in the idea, it snowballed, and I was finally able to rope in 12 carvers."

The comfort level is obvious as rows of men hard at work smile and wave as we wind through them. One of them, Javed Khan, is excited to pose with his piece of work, all pretence of nonchalance discarded when we bring out the camera.

"Each board took 12 days to make from start to finish, including carving, marking, cutting and polishing," he says, requesting us to ask Megerle in English if they can have a car to drive them to the gallery for the formal launch of the exhibit.

Slowly, his colleagues abandon their dedicated chipping and chat with us. "Almost all of us are from UP; most from Saharanpur, others from Meerut," says Wasim Malik, mopping the sweat off his brow. "We just moved, but some have been here for generations."

They were supervised by Megerle twice a week. "I saw real potential here. Their work is technically very sound, but years of making the same old mirror frames and dressers has dulled their creativity, somewhat. Hence, fusing a skateboardu00a0-- sporty, contemporary, and alien to Indian cultureu00a0-- with classic patterns made sense."

The skateboards are of course, not for use. "I want them to be works of art, so they transcend the utility value. Plus, you don't have flat footpaths in Mumbai to ride skateboards on," laughs Megerle. But the works are up for sale, and each carver is expected to receive a part of the proceeds.

On view till April 12 at The Loft, New Mahalaxmi Silk Mills, Mathuradas Mills Compound, Tulsi Pipe Road, Lower Parel. Call: 30400166