Alchemist from Andhra
November 2022
THE ALCHEMIST FROM ANDHRA
By Jamuna Rangachari
We often deplore the waste around us, but some like Srinivas Padakandla of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, not just recycles it but creates beauty out of it. Srinivas is a fine arts teacher in the College of Architecture and Planning, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Andhra Pradesh, and aptly calls himself an ‘eco-friendly junk artist.’
Srinivas turns scrap from automobiles into unique sculptures, which are wonderful to look at. To make these sculptures, his team of around 15 to 20 volunteers recycles e-waste by buying scrap from industrial areas and local mechanic shops. This may defy our imagination, but Srinivas has indeed mastered this rare art.
Srinivas got inspiration from the experimental work carried out by Texas-born artist Richard Rauschenberg, whose artworks made from scrap metal and broken-up machinery in the 1950s were deeply studied by British art critic Lawrence Alloway, who coined the term ‘Junk Art’ in 1961.
Fortunately, considerable encouragement was given to Srinivas by the Nagarjuna University authorities, where he works as a coordinator in the Department of Fine Arts. This helped him get support from Recycling Metal Art (RMA) from the municipal corporations of different states and the Industrial Training institute of Tamil Nadu.
It is possible to create beautiful art out of scraps too
However, Srinivas did face the issues of nonavailability of suitable raw material in local areas, scarcity of skilled labour, the unwillingness of available skilled workers to go to other states, coordination problems, unfriendly weather conditions in other states, and so on. But he did not give up, and now, he has got national recognition through Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s favourite Mann ki Baat programme. He has also received recognition and encouragement for the promotion of metal sculpture in Andhra Pradesh by the chief minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, as well as state-level awards and certificates from higher officials.
Srinivas now has sufficient land from the state government for the construction of a global training institute in the recycling of materials other than metal, for a wider promotion of this rare art.
Knowing his verve, I am sure he will promote this art form to all. Kudos Prof Srinivas. May we see more like you.