Meet Shaurya Mehrotra, the Gurugram-based potter with Down Syndrome
The Hindu
He builds platters, cups and bowls in his studio with the help of his mother, Nina Mehrotra
The walls of Banana Studio in Gurugram, Haryana are covered with colourful, abstract artwork. Plates and bowls, also in vibrant shades, created by Shaurya Mehrotra, are neatly stacked on two shelves. The 33-year-old has Down syndrome and his mother, Nina Mehrotra, helps him. “He likes things to be colourful,” she says. Shaurya was diagnosed with the condition when he was six months old. “His doctor said he won’t be able to do anything by himself. I had faith in his abilities. He started painting at a young age and started experimenting with clay when he was 13,” says Nina.
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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.
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