Meet The SHEROES: Namrata Jadhav Utekar, Founder, Re-made--Recycled Art

Creative people, they say, are a crazy lot. But this woman gives even the crazy ones a run for their art. Namrata Jadhav Utekar, the founder of Re-made--Recycled Art, says heart has art in it, and she has her heart in the right place--art, recycling, and hence contributing her mite in stemming the ‘disposable’ mentality the world is used to. Her fingers are magical; they play with clay, canvas, paint, discarded DVDs, plastic oil cans, Coke and Pepsi bottle caps and whatever her magic box of waste comes up with.  

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Now that you ask me, it has been a really long time since I started working on Re-made--Recycled Art. Whenever I see some objects getting wasted, I get these sudden flashes. Or most of the time, I keep collecting things and then they get used in some art creation.

I have studied commercial art, but this art is straight from the heart. It's about giving a second life to waste objects--the best from waste! My friends say I have an eye for waste. They also tease me about my fetish and passion for owls!

I just love owls. Some people have bad opinions or superstitions about owls, but to me, an owl is auspicious. I love owls anywhere and everywhere--from jewellery to clothes. I have painted owls on many different canvases, be it stone, paper, cloth, bottles, dry leaves or even an old non-stick pan! I have even done a short jewellery-making course, and did owls on a neck-piece too!

Another thing I have always wanted was to paint a Buddha, but I was looking for an innovative way of doing it. So when I was digging my "magic" box of waste, I saw a bag full of bottle caps, and bingo! I knew what I would do. So I painted this huge Buddha painting and used the bottle caps for the curls.

Art runs in my blood. My maternal aunt had similar genes; she was a very good artist. I also take after my father who believes that “A penny saved is penny earned.” It applies to everything--even to objects we call "waste or junk".

Re-made is all about recycled art forms. Currently, Re-made--Recycled Art is just a Facebook page. I started this page almost two years ago, but I see it more as a movement or maybe a community of art-lovers who want to do something huge and extraordinary with waste.

I use both biodegradable and non-biodegradable stuff. For me, it is all part of waste. I am, however, not much of a commercial person and do this out of sheer passion. Most times, I’m making things for my house. I also love doing gifts for my friends and family, and get a real high just by doing something new and unique every time. It could be a small coaster from a CD, or an entire minion-themed birthday party décor with cutlery and gifts. I also do commissioned work.

I would love to have an art gallery of recycled material someday. Because, waste is actually art--latent art at the very least. Every object has at least one beautiful thing in it. and I keep searching for it--I keep searching for a second birth in every small thing!

Waste has a good future. With growing awareness of environment-conservation, the young generation is becoming conscious about cutting down on waste, and will certainly look at alternate ways of using or recycling waste. Re-made, in this case, will be always seen as the first option.

This soft-spoken, friendly, happy woman is definitely a crazy one, as her friends call her; because while most cannot live without their make-up and mobile phone, her must-haves in life are: Creative thought, freedom to think and recycled art.

Loved this story? Click here to read about another admirable art installation artist.