Sustainability meets creativity at this art show in the city

Before the year ends, there's a list of things many of us haven't ticked off our bucket lists. Some will spill over to 2025 too. However, you may want to add just one more to this list - a visit to The Ann Showcase - an exhibition featuring artists and designers from across the country. Why? Because it practically incorporates the proverb - One man's trash is another man's treasure - to create meaningful, functional and sustainable art from discarded items, construction debris, metal scraps, agricultural by-products, etc.

How it all started
The COVID-19 pandemic brought some inspiration for Jesh Krishnamurthy, lead artist and founder of Advanced Nature, which is a 'waste mining value chain practice'. “It was heartbreaking to see what was happening with migrant workers. It made me think about how we can create more opportunities for rural communities while addressing the environmental impact of our consumption habits,” says Jesh, for whom this exploration has been over two decades in the making. “What we’re seeing today, the climate crisis, the challenges with waste management, everything that our planet is going through, has been building for years,” he says. This thought led to the beginning of this project and five years later, the results are here for all to see.

Guided by materials
The exhibition focuses on creating visually striking art and reimagining waste as a resource. A massive sculpture made from construction debris sits alongside furniture crafted from agricultural remnants such as coconut husks, engaging visitors in a larger conversation about sustainability. “Our designs are raw, free-flowing, and unreplicable,” Jesh explains, adding, “We’re not following traditional craft practices. Instead, we’re letting the material guide us, creating something that feels unique and honest.”

When: On till December 29Where: Monalisa Kalagram, Koregaon Park