Rakesh Patel (B. 1983 India ) Recycled art is a specific type of creative work made from discarded materials. The world recognises this movement as Upcycled Art. Artists who specialize in recycled art literally turn our trash into treasure. At its core, recycled art is about repurposing materials and nature conservation. The underlying message behind all recycled art is in the title itself: recycle. Though each piece has meanings and themes that vary greatly, at its heart the notion of repurposing supplies into sculptures sends a strong message on its own...that we should follow suit. Upcycled art is a growing movement but, though it’s popularity has surged recently, it isn’t an entirely foreign concept. The process of repurposing materials to create something new in art really began with Pablo Picasso who specialized in the collage. He would paste together separate bits of paper, newsprint, etc., to create a new image. Other artists like Marcel Duchamp and Robert Rauschenberg followed suit, actually repurposing objects like bicycle tires and street signs as art pieces. Indian artist Subodh Gupta is a prime example of a successful Indian artist who uses discarded pots, pans and utensils to create art. Hi I am Rakesh Patel and I use found discarded wooden objects from flee markets to create art. I have a personal commitment to make the world a safer and sustainable environment for the future generations. My work began as a way of finding my own relationship with myself and the divine. I come from a family of farmers and my father owned a hardware business, so somewhere as a child I was always culturally rooted at the same time was curious to explore materials. I can say my fascination for found objects was since then, even as a student I loved visiting Sunday market and pick up discarded things. Later as I grew in my practice these visits became a regular habit and my love for found objects grew even more towards creating artwork that would give meaning to such objects. Red eye in my courtyard is an amalgamation of such found objects, I have collected wooden blocks from the scarp, assembled and created an courtyard/altar, this courtyard/altar is a reflection of self and the culture that I belong to... be it the temple architecture, or the vibrant colours the texture, even the fragrance has a major impact while I am working as I incorporate them all in my work. The form of Eye and Bindi I use is a narrative sketch of faith, focus and diversity that prevalently adorns our culture. I feel India has the oldest cultural significance that time and again drives me in my art practice.
