Puri: Delhi-based artist Manveer Singh created a collage of 250 small turtles from layered plastics on Puri sea beach in Odisha with a message that marine plastic pollution might rise to a dangerous level by 2050.
The 15-feet long turtle near Digabareni Point was a delightful sight for visitors to the golden beach.
The artist, who has won the ‘METIS Initiative on Plastics and Indo-Pacific Ocean 2021’ Residency of city-based Utsha Foundation for Contemporary Art, explained, “Odisha has a special link with the Olive Ridley sea turtles and its long coast is famous across the globe for many mass nesting sites. My artwork is about a possible tragedy that is staring at us with an increasing level of plastic in seawater and baby turtles might not feel safe to go to the sea once they hatch. mythical symbolism of Olive Ridley as its connection with Odisha’s coastline is well recognised.”
The work is a loud message for people about pollution from plastics and how to contain it, he added.
Abhimanue VG, an artist and retired Associate Professor of Art from Vadodara, who visited the installation on Puri beach, said “It is interesting to see and experience Manveer’s public installation today.’’
“The sculptural installation using waste plastic is not non-recyclable and thus, Manveer has clearly conveyed his message regarding the environmental issues. Moreover, it was an experience for me as his professor when he was doing his MFA in painting at the College of Art, New Delhi. As I was visiting Odisha to know more about the art tradition and culture here, to see Manveer and his work was an opportunity for me to explore.‘’
Venkatesh (20), a local seller at Puri beach said, “We never realised that plastic pollution could affect the marine life in such a way. From the artist’s work, many people could get to know the danger ahead and the need to get rid of the menace.’’
Chinmay Ranjan Nayak (23), a practising artist and student of BK College of Art, said, “The plastic pollution in the marine environment is going to endanger every form of life. Manveer’s work relating to the Olive Ridley is only the tip of the iceberg.”
