Self-taught artist
SHYAMHARI CHAKRA
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Arun Kumar Ojha’s debut as a promising papier machie sculptor has made its distinct debut in Orissa’s craft scenario.
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Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty
Artist’s skill Arun Kumar’s works on display.
He has no formal training in art. Nor did he ever dream of becoming an artist. But as his ongoing exhibition of papier machie sculptures at the Orissa Modern Art Gallery in Bhubaneswar received response both from the public and the media, his joy kne
w no bounds. He is Arun Kumar Ojha, a self-taught artist from Barigaon village in Keonjhar district.
With Arun’s debut as a promising papier machie sculptor, the 600-year-old popular craft tradition of Kashmir, has also made its distinct debut in Orissa’s craft scenario. “The papier machie tradition has its origin in the 15th century Kashmir when king Zain-ul-Abidin invited accomplished artists and craftsmen from Central Asia to his kingdom. But I was inspired by the artists who make papier machie idols at Vandipallyam in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, says Arun who teaches economics in a college.
Papier machie is a French term that denotes mashed paper. Waste paper pulp, lime and paste prepared from tamarind seeds are its raw materials. Its uniqueness lies in application of line and colour on moulded forms. It involves ornamentation in colour over smoothened surfaces built up of paper pulp. Papier machie sculptures are eco-friendly, lightweight, durable and affordable as well.
A few years ago, Arun accompanied his uncle and mentor master craftsman Harihar Sutar to the village to study the style. Upon their return to Orissa while Harihar took to production of traditional designs of different deities and household goods for popular consumption, this young man experimented with the raw materials, theme, texture and colour of the craft form for nearly two years.
Each of Arun’s creations on display at the gallery bears an incredible look of antiquity apart from his amazing sense of aesthetics applied to the artefacts. And there lies his creativity and future. A vase with embossed images of the findings of the Indus valley civilization, the meditative Buddha, the replica of the stone arch of the elegant Mukteswar temple of Bhubaneswar, a tribal couple and the idol of Lord Ganesh – each piece bear a distinct signature of his creativity. His experimentation with the colour and texture gives the deceptive looks of stone, metal and terracotta to the objects. Even the home decors and wall hangings have been quite appealing. “I wish to involve children in this craft as their favourite hobby. Let them realise the need for re-use of waste paper while experiencing the joy of creating wonderful art objects from garbage,” says Arun.
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