An animated affair

What would the world be like without a clock? Surely it would keep ticking, albeit without any sense of timing. And maybe then having "no time" would be a legitimate excuse. But for paper artist, illustrator and writer Samir Bharadwaj, this plays out well only in imagination.

Although he credits his entry into paper craft to chance, the 39-year-old went on to develop a deep attachment with the art form. When Bharadwaj was three, he was introduced to origami by his father, who worked in the water treatment chemical industry in Mumbai. The first object he learnt to make was a crane - one of the most classic pieces in Japanese origami.
A paper sculpture of swans, by Samir Bharadwaj

Captured by the possibilities that paper as a medium could offer, he began his artistic endeavour as a design professional with a graphic designing degree. Then came Papernautic, a creative studio he launched to seriously pursue his interests. "Origami is still not recognised as an art form in India. What really appealed to me was the fact that you could do anything with it," he says. As Bharadwaj moved from standard origami to advanced techniques of paper cutting, he graduated to experimenting with automatons, or self-operating machines (like clocks) made of paper.

Samir Bharadwaj

It's a hobby he cultivated with the help of books, not the Internet. And Bharadwaj aims to convey a similar philosophy at an upcoming workshop in collaboration with TARQ. "When you see the picture of an automaton, you are instantly fascinated by it. Watching people make automatons evokes the same reaction. But when you do the exercise yourself, you realise how simple materials can be used to create complex objects."

An automaton of a paper elephant in progress

The moving art of automatons is a one-of-a-kind workshop where participants are not only introduced to the conceptual definition of the term, but will also create two products of their own. Although patience is key, he maintains that the workshop will remain instructional minus any technical jargon.

the final product uses a mechanism that makes the head bob up and down

The workshop ties in with the gallery's ongoing exhibition, Waste Land, curated by Birgid Uccia, which highlights the importance of waste management. "The important thing is how art connects with our everyday life, including science, mechanics and several other areas. Working with art often gives people access to something they may not otherwise be able to explore," says gallery director Hena Kapadia.

On: July 28, 2 pm
At: TARQ, Apollo Bunder, Colaba.
Log on to: insider.in
Cost Rs 3,500 plus taxes

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