This environmentalist uses decoupage to save and preserve objects
Pooja Gupta
There are many environmentalists in the city, but Pooja D Gupta is perhaps the only one who uses the French art of decoupage to save objects which would otherwise have been thrown away. Thanks to Pooja’s efforts in spreading both the craft form and its effects to women across the city, sticking coloured paper with mod podge has never been so exciting.
Brought up in the colourful city of Jaipur, the 29-year-old had an upbringing where crafts were a secondary hobby, coming only after academics. “I came from one of the big families in the city. So, even though I was very interested in papier mache and candle making from a young age, I ended up studying engineering and joining an IT firm. All through this, the only person who was with me is my mother. She was tireless in her encouragement,” says the former techie, who exhibited in Jaipur a number of times. Five years ago, Pooja moved to Bengaluru. “I married my husband, Shobhit, whom I knew since childhood. When we came here, he said, “Now you can follow your dreams,” and so I founded Posh Creative Studios,” says Pooja.
It was after she realised how popular her handmade gifts were that Pooja decided to conduct workshops for people who might be interested in upcycling bottles, pieces of cardboard and other discarded household items. Ever the perfectionists, Pooja decided to attend craft workshops first to get an idea of what they involve, before conducting one of her own. She says, “In my first workshop, I had people from all ages between 18 and 52. Afterwards, we formed a whatsapp group and now I guide them whenever they get stuck with something. So you can say that my students did like what I taught them,” laughs Pooja.
With more than 400 people enquiring about her upcoming workshop, Pooja’s days are busy, leaving her to work on her decoupage in the late hours of the night. She is, however, not one to complain. “I am hoping that this will be a success, because a lot depends on this. I have plans to make decoupaging into a household industry where housewives from all walks of life can participate under an umbrella organisation, and amass an income as well. Bengaluru is very professional, very accepting of every new thing, so let’s see,” smiles the crafter.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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