KOCHI: A recently released YouTube video has ignited the interest of viewers. In this video, something as trivial as matchsticks play the lead roles. In fact, it is an amalgam of photo frames shot by Bivin Lal of Thiruvananthapuram.
“I have been trying to make such a video using stop-motion technology for a few months,” Bivin, who works as a clerk in Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat, told Express. “After failing in many attempts, I stopped until I got an inspiration to go for it again.” He noted that many KorekGraphy (artworks using matchsticks) videos lacked a continuous motion and looked clumsy.
“I wanted to make one of my own that goes in a perfect flow and attracts the viewers. Singer Shahbaz Aman’s music was a great influence on me to attempt the work again after numerous failures,” he added.
The video titled ‘Songs of Love’ has more than 10,000 frames with the song ‘Maranamathunna Nerath’ composed by Shahbaz Aman running in the background. “About 36 matchsticks were used for the video with six characters. The Universal Record Federation have asked me about the procedures. I might get a recognition for making the first matchstick video with exact motion,” he said. He mentioned as soon as he released the video, he received a lot of positive feedback.
“Since this was dedicated to Shahbaz Aman, I used his song. But from my next work onwards I want to include social issues and bring people’s attention to it through the art,” he added.
This matchstick artist is also a photographer. All the photo frames for his video were captured by him.
“Actually photography is my real passion and I have been into this field since decades. But due to some personal reasons, I had to take a break from photography in 2016 and after that I started developing an interest in matchstick art,” he said. He mentioned it is difficult for him to live without engaging in any artwork and this was the major reason he took to matchsticks.
Initially, he did simple works before turning into making videos. He mentioned that his work received great appreciation from colleagues and family. “One of my matchstick works which went viral in social media was the famous ‘Lelu Allu’ scene by Mohanlal in the movie ‘Thenmavin Kombathu’. Till now I have done 80 plus photo frames with matchsticks,” Bivin said.
He said the artwork does not have a huge investment as the only products required are matchsticks and a few old clothes to dress them up as characters. Now he continues with both matchsticks and photography depending on his free time. But that is not the end, Bivin is also a trained magician. He used to conduct shows, but when his job became more demanding, he had to quit. “But I take classes for students on how to study science through performing some magic tricks. I work as a guest faculty at the Magic Academy too,” he said.
Be it magic, photography or matchsticks, Bivin said his life is incomplete without art and he will try bringing innovative thoughts through his works.