The
Ajanta Caves
beckon at the Mumbai international airport. Instead of rock, these caves are made of corrugated cardboard.
Titled “Preserve the Pride”, the
installation
by cardboard artist and sculptor Bandana Jain derives inspiration from the doorway of a
Buddhist
shrine at the Ajanta Caves, a
UNESCO heritage site.
Displayed at the Jaya He Museum, Jain says the artwork took her 1,080 hours to finish.
“Ajanta Cave 19 has a remarkably detailed façade, which depicts scenes from Buddha's life. I have given my installation a distressed look to show how the details of the facade of the actual cave have faded, and to create awareness about its fragile state,” says the Mumbai-based artist. “I want to show that conservation of heritage is important. Heritage structures represent the history and culture of a nation. They make us aware of where we come from,” she says.
The artwork is made in 16 interlocked parts. “I have used 10,000 cardboard cutouts to make this giant artwork. My artwork has 22 statues which depict different phases of Buddha's life,” says Jain, who adds that she likes working with corrugated cardboard as it a versatile medium which is exceptionally strong and extremely durable.