How this multi-media artist creates art from cardboards to promote sustainability

An artist uses the good old cardboard box to talk about consumerism and sustainability

Bandana Jain, is a multi-media artist who also works with metal and wood, but her fascination with corrugated cardboard has culminated in her work titled An Ode to Consumerism. A product of the J J School of Art, and as someone who promotes sustainable living, the artist has created figures of a man and a woman walking away with big boxes, all made of corrugated cardboard. But the piece we found the most fascinating is of an overweight man standing with a cardboard box painted with many colours—an indication of the excess found in today’s world and our never-ending greed for it.

“I rarely use colour in my work with cardboard, but this time I wanted to play around a bit. I am hoping that through my work, people understand the effects of the choices they make in terms of what lifestyle they lead. I have tried to lead by example and have simplified my life. I have even given up wearing jewellery, which is essential to the Marwadi community, to which I belong,” says the Worli resident.

The artist first experimented with the material when she was studying at her alma mater and found a box lying around on campus. Soon, she made a couch out of it, which set her on her path. It was, however, during a trip to Switzerland that she truly felt the need for India as a nation, and Mumbai as a city, to catch up with the commitment that several countries have made towards sustainable living.

“I was staying in an AirBnb and there were so many different dustbins for glass, metal, wet waste etc.  Further their impetus on the use of public transport  in their day to day life was also highly inspiring. When I returned to Mumbai, the importance of knowing the fallout of our actions as consumers really sunk in,,” she says. The artist adds that she is hoping to showcase her series early next year. 

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