What happens when an artist steps out of the studio and into the land? And can art help us understand what we consume, how we live and what we are losing? In this episode of Expressions, sculptor and installation artist Arun Kumar H.G. talks about his journey from urban art to working closely with agriculture, ecology and the Western Ghats. Arun discusses why he calls himself a “student of the environment” rather than an environmentalist, how he moved away from studio-based practice, and how restoring a barren patch of family land led to the creation of SARA Centre.
The conversation also explores his use of waste and discarded materials in art, including plastic and discarded pizza boxes, and why he believes materials should tell their own story. Arun talks about SARA’s work with farmers, artists, teachers and students, the importance of creating cultural and knowledge centres outside cities, and the preservation of traditional rice varieties through its seed bank. He also shares his thoughts on the Western Ghats, biodiversity, development and why people should understand the draft notification before forming an opinion.