It all began back in college, when I first saw it on my college campus. It was love at first sight—literally. Since then, my loyalty to this humble material has been unwavering. Even today, I can’t imagine my existence without it. We’ve had our ups and downs, like any good relationship, but we’ve grown together, stronger and better.
So, when a company approached me last month for a display project, I thought, “Really?” As an artist, I usually steer clear of commercial projects—I’m very picky about my medium and the work I take on. But this was different. They needed someone who could work magic with recycled material, and apparently, I was the only one in India who could do it within their insane time frame. Flattering, right?
The company was in a bind. Their client insisted on a recycled material display, but their own team couldn’t handle it. After much persuasion and a generous dose of flattery, I agreed to take on the project. Then reality hit me: I had only 10 days to pull this off. Ten days! And that wasn’t the only challenge. We had space issues, labor shortages (thanks to summer vacations), and the never-ending quest for the right materials. Oh, and did I mention a Sunday and May Day fell right in the middle? Perfect.
Despite consulting with industry experts who offered zero positivity, I knew I had to make it work. It was my very own “Mission Impossible.” I had no choice but to give it my all—200%, to be exact.
The client’s demands were, shall we say, “unique.” They wanted everything in recycled material but without any exposed recycled edges. Hundreds of panels, all needing to be perfectly covered with paper. It was like handling fragile feathers, each step requiring meticulous care. Cutting, gluing, sticking—every process had its own set of challenges. Such a slow process whereas the time is flying.
In the midst of this chaos, I was trying to speed up the process and I discovered fascinating factories and intriguing machines. It struck me how little exposure the academic world gives to actual manufacturing processes. Despite the hurdles, it was incredibly satisfying and eye-opening.
With unwavering faith and sheer determination, I managed to complete the project. Sure, a bit more time would have been nice to iron out the flaws, but I’m proud of what I achieved. I learned so much, and in the end, I made the “impossible” possible.
So here’s to my beloved recycled material—my partner in crime, my muse, and my constant source of inspiration. Together, we can conquer anything.
A decade of togetherness and forever to go! 🙂
