Art’s trashy? Never!
Mumbai: Mumbai-based Domnic Anthony was the only artist from Asia invited for the coveted residency at the Kunstoffe, Berlin — a scrap yard that organises an international artists’ programme with the aim of creatively exploring the possibilities of recycling. And while ‘rubbish’ and ‘garbage’ may be words running through your mind at this point, Anthony explains, “I use wastage, scrap and make it visually interesting by putting it together in an interactive installation.”
What sent the German media into a tizzy was the fruit of his one-and-a-half month long residency — The Tree Of Life — a “futuristic” installation that depicts how important a thriving ecological environment is for our survival as “human beings,” gingerly cling to the delicate branches of a tree.
Anthony says, “Destroying the TREE not only finishes off the immediate life around it, like small creatures, birds etc, but also ultimately destroys LIFE on earth. When consumerism stops, everything stops.”
Interestingly, this ‘UP Trash Artist’s’ (as branded by German media) work also caught the eye of critically acclaimed German artist Adler AF. One thing led to another and, “She suggested we work and exhibit together,” he says.
Although their collaboration is only in the initial stages, they have big plans. Anthony explains, “She might come sometime next year. She plans to work with trash available here and put up an exhibition.”
But one of their more unique collaborations, should it materialise, is the setting set up of Asia’s first trash Museum in Mumbai. Until then, Anthony’s The Tree Of Life has been so well received that his German sponsors have decided to take the exhibit to Florence too.
