Glass mosaic art is 43-year-old Mansi Madan’s pandemic baby. The Pune-based alumnus of Nanavati College of Architecture took to designing interiors of residential and commercial spaces with gusto for five years, netting in acclaim for her fine detailing and finesse in shaping contemporary spaces. No wonder creating spectacular glass mosaics, on an equally astounding scale, came naturally to her during the lockdowns when she began researching, reading and working on the skills required to cut glass.
“I found myself loving every minute I spent creating mosaics. For me, it was exciting to try my hand at a medium I had never explored before,” she says, putting the finishing touches to the dancing rendition of the Nataraj. It is poetry in motion with the matted locks strewn in all directions in serpentine precision, with the beads and flowers flowing in fluid abandon. From the curl of the knuckles to the stretch of the calves and the instep, Mansi pours in her own imagination to envisage the free spirited movement of the blue-throated god on the peak of Mount Kailash. The artwork, titled Shiva, unfurls in a frame of 42×57 inches and weighs 15 kg. Her love for mythology runs deep along with her penchant for forms in nature, and human expression.
A rare aspect, considering the paucity of mosaic glass artists in India. The process is decidedly complex, with very few artists in the country experimenting with this medium of expression. Her biggest challenge has been to source the textures she requires from the available raw materials as the resources are limited in India, compared to Europe and the US where glass mosaic is in high demand. Mansi mostly procures her raw materials from Italy and Spain but says she has recently identified a supplier in Gujarat who manufactures glass, especially for artwork. “I like to work in the stillness of the night. I can hear my inner thoughts clearly,” she admits. The creative expression takes seed as Mansi decides on her subject, and begins
Shilpi Madan for Sunday Herald