Applique of Wadaj
Applique is an ancient technique in which fabric patches are layered on a foundation fabric, then stitched in place by hand or machine with the raw edges turned under or covered with decorative stitching.Applique was used as a means of story telling in olden days.I used this medium to narrate another story.
It is practiced by different communities in different parts of the country.One such community is settled in the place called Vadaj in Ahmedabad.The clusters of the houses of artisans, their temples, shops etc have a culture on its own.Life of the people of Vadaj revolves around the craft and they use their creativity and imagination in making beautiful applique pieces.Its their pure hard work and dedication that have helped the craft to sustain all these years.
In the project of craft workshop, I have used the technique of applique to communicate this serious environmental issue to the younger generation in a more effective and powerful way.
In recent years awareness and support for issues concerning climate change, pollution, and oceans have gathered public support, this begs the question: When was plastic pollution in the oceans widely recognised as a serious issue? Plastics in the oceans started to accumulate in the 1960s, Today, of the now 9.2 billion tons of plastic products, 6.9 billion tons have become waste – with 6.3 billion tons failing to make it into a recycling system.Ocean plastics are estimated to kill millions of marine creatures every year, with approximately 700 species of fish, marine mammals, and sea birds are to potentially go extinct due to plastic pollution.
For marine wildlife, there is the immediate threat of being harmed or trapped by the bigger plastic items – and then there is the more invisible threat of micro plastics. Species of all shapes and sizes are unknowingly consuming micro plastics.
A depiction of lives underwater
This set of cushion portrays the three different stages of evolution in marine life.The first cushion is a very beautiful underwater ecosystem with fishes, marine plants and other organisms co-existing.
The second cushion brings in the introduction of the new organism/ material- Plastic bags.
Third cushion is the adversely affected underwater ecosystem where the marine plants, mammals and other organisms are extinct and we only see plastic and waste in it.
