It isn’t every day that children get a chance to be inspired by a creative genius like sculptor Arzan Khambatta. Renowned for his sensational ‘Scraptures’ — pieces of art created by welding together pieces of scrap metal — Khambatta’s works are found in corporate houses, hotels, and private collections around the world and range from six inches to seventy feet in height, the most prominent ones being the dolphins at Worli and the Ceat rhino at Juhu Circle.
We catch up with the artist, whose latest passion is photography, at the art and craft masterclass at Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla, where he highlighted the art of creating robotic, alien and scientific three-dimensional objects…
The topic of the masterclass sounds interesting. How would it help participants to create these three-dimensional objects?
Well, each workshop is designed differently. This time I had elements like cups, rings, pipes, masks, works, prospect sheets, etc from which the wildest things could be created at my masterclass at Phoenix Marketcity Kurla. Instead of leaving the topic open, and to avoid a longer initial thinking time, I decided to give them this topic which excited all children of
all ages.
How do such masterclasses work to help budding artists and other lay people?
Anything that requires you to think creatively, without boundaries, and lets you use your hands to see the form through, helps in opening the mind, hence increasing your creative and artistic self.
Were any interesting objects created during the masterclass? Which ones did you find particularly compelling?
There were lots. The masks with the alienist paraphernalia were brilliantly executed.
How do you recommend children find inspiration for creation?
One must keep observing things around them. For children of this generation, it’s becoming more difficult with the cell phone being in their hands all the time. But to observe, whilst walking, whilst riding to school, wherever, helps in imagining forms.
What part does imagination play in conceiving such ideas, and what part do scientific principles play?
Scientific principles are good for certain pieces and so is technical know-how to join the various materials together. The rest is only done by one’s imagination.
What are some of the ideal materials to experiment with?
Hard paper, plastic bottles, wine corks, soft wire, plasticine, stiff plastic sheets, and any material which has form and mass.
What role does creativity play in our life?
Creativity expands the mind and changes the way one sees the world and life in general. A creative person is always more at peace with himself as he sees meaning in so many aspects of life.
How important is it for a human being to create?
We just need to study any ancient civilization to answer that question. What would Rome, Greece, India or any other place be if our forefathers had not created all the priceless art and architecture that we treasure today.
How can one enhance one’s creativity and creation-capacity?
See the art works of great artists, read good books, watch good movies, talk to people of all kinds from different walks of life, and it is of utmost importance to experiment freely and bravely without worrying what someone else might say.
What new avenues have you been exploring of late?
Besides sculpture, I’m dabbling in creating detailed works in pen and ink. I’m taking part in some story telling events and most importantly I am creating a permanent space to conduct workshops and other interesting events like small music dos, yoga studios, etc.
Are there any new projects that you are enthused about?
I’m currently creating a massive bronze sculpture of a bull for one of the prominent traffic islands in the city.
