Chennai Mall Transforms Coastal Plastic Waste into Striking Art Installations
Visitors to VR Mall in Anna Nagar, Chennai, are currently greeted by an extraordinary sight reminiscent of the Kochi Biennale. As part of the ongoing Madras Art Guild Festival, the mall is hosting a series of art works and installations that carry a powerful environmental message. The centerpiece is a magnificent 10-foot sculptural arch positioned right at the entrance, meticulously crafted from what appears to be small tiles.
From Litter to Lasting Art: The Science of Durable Upcycling
These are no ordinary tiles. Each component has been fabricated from plastic litter meticulously collected by volunteers from the Chennai coastline. This initiative moves beyond typical single-use plastic projects. "Recycled plastic is notorious for being of poor quality and easily broken," explains King Gowtham, founder of Walk for Plastic and Art Kingdom. "These tiles and the other furniture items have been created after extensive research, and are tough and solid."
Gowtham's organizations specialize in upcycling and recycling coastal plastic litter on a large scale. Starting his career as an art director, he pioneered methods to transform plastic into durable art. "Using conventional methods, only about 50kg of plastic can be used for such an installation, but we upcycled nearly 233kg of plastic waste into these tiles," he reveals. The structure's foundation incorporates an additional 30kg of plastic bottles gathered from the coastline, along with integrated electronic waste, mirror waste, and refurbished iron pipes.
Collaborative Efforts and Sachet Art Masterpieces
This ambitious project is a collaboration with UNESCO's ‘Pockets of Hope’ programme, highlighting global efforts in sustainable art. Another captivating artwork within the mall features portraits that, upon closer inspection, are revealed to be intricate sachet art. "Nearly 50,000 plastic sachets have been used for creating them," states Gowtham, showcasing the scale of repurposing.
Investing in the Future: Supporting Children in the Waste Management Chain
The impact of this work extends far beyond aesthetics. Proceeds from the recycling initiatives are channeled into educating the children of individuals within the waste management ecosystem—ragpickers and scavengers from Chennai and its surrounding areas. "Out of the 33 children we have helped so far, seven are school dropouts. Many are malnourished, and we provide them with the right nutrition, tuition fees and money for school uniforms," Gowtham emphasizes, linking environmental action with social welfare.
A Vision for a Sustainable and Inclusive World
Over the years, the organization has achieved remarkable milestones, upcycling over 35,000 kilograms of plastic into artistic installations and recycling an impressive 100,000 kilograms of plastics. Gowtham articulates a clear and inspiring vision: to "create a beautiful world inclusive of waste." This festival exhibition at VR Mall stands as a vivid testament to that vision, demonstrating how creativity and environmental stewardship can merge to foster both beauty and positive community change.
