His way of looking at waste and scraps is a little different than ours. This 54-year-old artist from Bhopal or whom ‘waste to wonder’ is a mantra, says his art carries a message for a Swachh Bharat.
Devendra Prakash Tiwari makes idols of Lord Shiva and Ganesha and other deities from waste electronic and mechanical parts. He has also been creating miniature models of animals, birds, automobiles, bikes, tanks, helicopters, satellites and military weapons.
“It is how you look at the waste materials — whether they are worn-out or thrown away mechanical parts, broken plastic or electrical equipment. If you have a creative vision, nothing is waste. You can create art from them, build structures, create utilitarian things and also harness energy,” says Tiwari.
“If the government really wants the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission, they have to adopt a creative aptitude towards waste materials and explore in how many ways they could be used. If we succeed in doing that, we will not only have a swachh, clean India, but the waste materials will help us in creating a better and beautiful India.”
Tiwari, who originally hails from Gwalior, came to Bhopal after completing masters in sociology and arts in early 1980s. “When people see my art in various exhibitions, they presume I have a technical background. I came to Bhopal in 1982 to work with Coal India Ltd as an office superintendent. But my passion for creating art and miniature models using waste continues. Wherever I go, I keep a watch on waste materials that can be used to make idols and models,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}Tiwari, who originally hails from Gwalior, came to Bhopal after completing masters in sociology and arts in early 1980s. “When people see my art in various exhibitions, they presume I have a technical background. I came to Bhopal in 1982 to work with Coal India Ltd as an office superintendent. But my passion for creating art and miniature models using waste continues. Wherever I go, I keep a watch on waste materials that can be used to make idols and models,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}“Though, the idols of these deities are for display purposes only,” he said.
According to the artist, Lord Ganesha is not the just the patron God of beginnings, his iconography sends a strong message for the Swachhta mission, sanitation and purity — both within and outside.