Putting pieces together

A full-time employee at a fertiliser firm and a part-time collage maker, 30-year-old  Tushar Tukaram More tells Padmja Sinha how he manages to squeeze time out of his busy life to pursue his passion

Thane resident Tushar not only loves making collage but also capturing things through his lens. A true artist at heart, one would say.

How it began
I didn't even know something like this existed. I never thought that pieces of paper could turn into such beautiful designs. I remember the day when I heard about an exhibition taking place in Mulund by Hema Gupta. I went to the exhibition and saw works displayed by the artist. I was really amazed to know that such an art form existed. It attracted me so much that I finally decided to learn everything about the art form. After a few days, I enrolled myself into an art class, but due to time constraint, I could just go for a day. I learnt the basics of the art form in the one-day. I then started practising the art on my own.

My journey
Making a paper collage is not as easy as it seems. One needs a lot of patience to practise the art. Sometimes, it takes months to make a single piece. I love making giant-sized ones in particular. I learnt the basics, but I slowly started introducing 2D and 3D effect into the art form.

How I do it
The first step of the collage is to decide the length and breadth of the piece. The piece is then sketched on different sheets of coloured paper. The sheets are then cut into different shapes depending on the requirement. The most critical aspect is making eyes. It can sometimes take more than a month to make them. A collage can be completed in eight days or even a year, depending on the design.

Investment
I only invest my time and effort into a collage. Every day after retuning from work, I practise collage till three in the morning. My parents too are very supportive of my work.

Best work
The best collage that I have made till date is a portrait of Shiv Rajyabheesek. It is 5 feet in  length and 3.5 in breadth. It me about 18 months to complete the collage.

Exhibitions
•    Kala Ghoda Fort Mumbai – May  2004
•    Nitai Guaraj Art Gallery Thane – November 2005
•    Golden Swan Club Thane – May 2006
•    New English School Thane –  March 2007