
Detritus by Artsforward impels thought on waste and want
The Hindu
Detritus by Artsforward impels thought on waste and want
It is no secret we all succumb to the call of consumerism more often than we should and are saddled with far more than we need or know what to do with. As a result, the copious amounts of waste we generate end up on overflowing landfills, weighing down the planet with what could have been avoided.
Detritus by Bengaluru-based Artsforward is a multi-form performance that highlights the implications of “living in a world that is overburdened by what we consume and discard.”
Curated by Paramita Saha, a dancer, performer and art manager, Detritus combines design, choreography, recorded music, movement and physical expression, in a bid to promote “a lightness of being”.
Paramita founded Artsforward in 2010, with the intent to, “design strategic encounters between businesses and artistes to see how we come together as a community in the art management space.”
“Everything we do in the creative space has to be executed with great responsibility as both the human and non-human environment is being altered at such an accelerated rate, we cannot keep up. We’ve set off a number of changes with the way we use natural resources and now waste is being churned out in a manner which is beyond our control,” she says.
According to Paramita, it is the not-so-privileged section of society who bear the brunt of these harsh changes. She admits that often the ease of modern life make us complacent and complicit. “For instance, plastic is so convenient, cheap and accessible to all, that we stop asking difficult questions about its production and disposal.”
“However, people in the creative sector can engage and inspire people to make the change. We have a gift and with great gifts come great responsibility. My work aims to inspire people to engage with crises in the environmental space,” says Paramita, adding that the idea for Detritus was born from that need.

A vacuum cleaner haunted by a ghost is the kind of one-liner which can draw in a festival audience looking for a little light-hearted fun to fill the time slots available between the “heavier” films which require much closer attention. A useful ghost, the debut feature of Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke being screened in the world cinema category at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), even appears so in the initial hour. Until, the film becomes something more, with strong undercurrents of Thailand’s contemporary political history.

Sustainability is not an add-on, but stamped firmly into the process: every piece is biodegradable, waste-free and unembellished, free from glitter or beads. “Products should be sustainable and biodegradable so that our planet is not harmed,” says Anu Elizabeth Alexander, a student of Sishya, Adyar. At a recent exhibition, the stars she made sold the fastest, followed by the small diamonds. “I would like people to know about the process, how it is created, and that it is sustainable,” says Anu. Infanta Leon from Kotturpuram developed an interest in crochet as a teenager. It was a hobbyhorse that evolved into a steed that would help her embark on a journey of identity-shaping creative engagement. She started making Christmas-themed decor two years ago, spurred by a desire to craft safe, eco-friendly toys for children. “With a toddler at home, and my elder child sensitive to synthetic materials, I wanted to create items that were gentle, durable and tactile,” she explains. Her earliest creations were small amigurumi toys which gradually evolved into ornaments that could adorn Christmas trees with warmth and charm.











