CHENNAI: A re you a nature enthusiast-cum-eco-friendly art lover? Have you ever wondered how coconut shells can be put to use? Anandaperumal, a coconut shell artist from Tirunelvelli gives the best of both the worlds. In the city for an exhibit, City Express chats with the shell crafter about his passion for a coconut shell. “I run a gold refining business in Tirunelveli. But I am passionate towards nature,” says the owner of Kavin Gallery.
A nature lover, Anandaperumal says it’s high time we start preserving and respecting what we naturally get. “The whole concept is about art out of waste. What Mother Nature has given us is precious and I do craft only out of products that doesn’t pollute the environment,” he says.
Initially he made only jewellery pieces and accessories out of coconut. But the positive feedbacks from his family and environmental groups such as Cuckoo gave him the push to venture into miniature sculptures.
He works on an open terrace with a balcony and says no other workplace can give him this much satisfaction. “I wanted to work on something for village development. Fortunately, everything that happened was related to nature. Nature brings out the best in me,” he smiles.
Apart from making miniature sculptures, Anandaperumal and his team specialise in making giant silhouette structures made from wood, coconut shells, sea shells, leaves and anything that’s available on the streets (eco-friendly waste).
“We have made a ship made out of wood, coconut shell, leaves and eco-friendly scraps. It’s 20 feet-high,” he says. “In fact, we are getting orders from people to do interior decoration for wedding and birthday parties using eco-friendly material. That’s a positive change,” he smiles.
If he gets a marriage contract, he does not bring or buy any new materials. “We use the materials that we find around the hall...within a 5 km radius. We make structures based on what we have. It has been a huge hit here in Chennai,” he explains.
With a growing clientele in Chennai, Coimbatore and Bengaluru, Anandaperumal aims to create awareness about this eco-friendly craft in his home town. “People in villages aren’t aware of the importance of this. Sometimes they just say, ‘What’s this, just a coconut shell?’ I want to change the mindset,” he explains.
Anandaperumal has plans to collaborate with NGOs and provide jobs to people in villages. “We have just mastered the art of this coconut craft making; we want to teach this to others,” he says.
His target groups are makers of firecrackers and beedis. As we talk, he informs, “Ten miniature sculptures can be made from one coconut shell. When we can use them in a positive way, why burn this gold?” he asks.
Apart from miniature sculptures and silhouettes, Anandaperumal’s team also crafts coconut shell frames, key chains, lamp shades and wall hangings.
Catch Anandaperumal at the By Hand from the Heart: Makers Market at Crowne Plaza today from 10 am to 8pm. For details, visit KavinGallery on FB