‘Miniature art should be part of formal art school’

Back in childhood, most of us have broken pencil leads while we tried to write. That’s how gentle pencil leads and blackboard chalks have always been. But, have you ever come across one of those beautifully chiselled miniature pencil lead art pieces on social media and wondered how anyone could carve an art piece out of the thin, delicate pencil leads or chalk pieces? Sachin Sanghi, a Bengaluru-based software engineer, has been creating some mesmerising tiny intricate art pieces carved out of chalk and pencil.

The journey of a modern-day miniature sculptor
Sachin’s interest in miniature art began 16 years ago, when he carved chalk that was used at school. Since then, he exposed himself to the art form without any formal art training. Sharing his knowledge about the art, he says, “I haven’t received a formal training in sculpting, or art, but I never stopped exploring as I was always interested in craft and hence, tried to create miniatures out of chalk and pencil lead. I use basic equipment to carve out my pieces such as dissection needle used in zoology labs, pencil sharpeners, screwdrivers and surgical knives.”

Miniature art should be taught at art schools This intricate art needs concentration, patience, and an eye for detail. However, miniature pencil lead and chalk carving is not included as a part of any art school syllabus yet. “This artform is really challenging. You create something from a tiny object where there isn’t much scope to begin with. The art form definitely needs to be included as an art practice in art school,” says Sachin.
Honour at the capitalSachin’s work has impressed even the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ramnath Kovind. When Narendra Modi was presented with a miniature of himself along with his mother, Sachin tells us, “Modiji himself was instructing the photographer on the kind of shots he wanted of the miniatures as he was rather impressed with the miniatures.”