When Junk takes the Shape of Art

What is junk for one is art for the other. Saurabh Mandal of Kokrajhar Assam created a 3D artwork using maximum electronic junk. Parts of the motherboard, mobile phones, televisions, and calculators were used to form the 3D bust. It was held together by spokes of a cycle wheel, glued and welded together on a plyboard and painted black.

A student of M.Com. Saurabh has a keen interest in various kinds of art forms. His art forms were also acknowledged and appreciated by the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Saurabh wanted to create a new art form to promote recycling and reuse of materials that emphasized creativity and innovation. “I was inspired by the 3D art form and collected the waste materials partly from an electronic repairing shop and some from my storeroom. These are all different parts of unused electronic items like motherboards, mobile phones, television, calculators, etc. This was my first visual 3D artwork hence I was a little nervous and apprehensive while making the artwork,” says Saurabh.

Making the artwork was not an easy task. Saurabh faced problems while cutting the electronics parts into particular shapes as he didn’t have proper cutting tools, as it was his first attempt.

After a month-long of planning, it took him five days to give shape to the 3D art. Talking about his choice of Subhas Chandra Bose, he says, “This artwork is a tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, chose him because he is the most influential freedom fighter with extraordinary leadership skills and a charismatic orator. He continues to be a symbol of assertive nationalism. He played a crucial role in freeing the country from the clutches of 200 years of British rule in his inimitable way, much like the other leading lights of the day, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.”

None of this would have been possible without the support of his family, who constantly motivate him to do creative and innovative works. In the future, Saurabh aims to represent India globally with his artwork.