Art and sustainability combined are known to converge in an influential alliance, where creativity becomes a motivation for environmental consciousness. Through diverse mediums, artists explore themes of conservation, environmental action, and the interconnectedness of society with nature. Art mirrors society's impact on the planet, from sculptures crafted with recycled materials to thought-provoking installations highlighting environmental degradation.
While art exhibitions and biennials can be one of the most controversial realities of the art world due to the high carbon emissions and the amount of waste generated, numerous artists are making sustainability the core of their work through their approaches. Let's delve into the work of one such artist practising sustainability and slow crafting.
Shradha Kochhar, a Delhi-born textile artist and educator, has carved a unique niche for herself in Brooklyn, New York. Her creations, born from her artistic prowess, are unlike anything you have seen. She meticulously crafts home-spun and hand-knitted 'khadi' sculptures using 'kala cotton', a genetically pure, old-world cotton crop indigenous to India. These sculptures and her sustainable artworks, free from pesticides or artificial irrigation, stand as a testament to her unwavering commitment to sustainability.
She initiates her process with a portable booklet spinning wheel or Peti Charkha to create her thread, which she then hand knits to form textures and structures that mimic the skin on our bodies, various body parts or the spaces we inhabit. Her work embodies the concept of 'material memory ', exploring how materials can retain and convey memories, cotton legacies, and intergenerational healing. By focusing on creating a physical archive of personal and collective South Asian narratives tied to women's work, invisible labour, and loss, her work transcends whispers over generations, existing as large-scale sculptures. Her work is a powerful intersection of sustainability, regenerative craft, and racial equity through textiles.
Her 'Flour, Ghee and Sesame seeds' sculpture, a five-foot-tall 'something', is spun, knit, and hand-sewn in Brooklyn. It was featured at 'Constellation Threads,' an exhibition held at the Underdonk Art Gallery, New York, in 2023. The sculpture, inspired by the ingredients used in traditional Indian cooking, showcases intricate textures that mirror Shradha's unique approach to textile art, along with a long braided wig, adding a touch of whimsy to her profound artistic expression.
"I'm drawing from history and referencing a movement that existed in the past, to create something modern"Shradha Kochhar Via Platform Magazine
Shradha is not just an artist, but a visionary. As the founder and creative director of Imli Dana, an independent textile studio, she champions generational textile techniques and honours the labour associated with them. Her co-founding of LOTA – A revolutionary solution for recycling pre-consumer textile waste using 3D digital technology - has not only made a significant impact on sustainability, but has also paved the way for India's first CGI model. Her initiatives spark hope for a more sustainable and equitable future where art and sustainability are not just co-existing, but thriving together.
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