We are happy to introduce another India based mosaicist to inspire our readers. Do leave your comments or questions.
Archita, do tell us a bit about yourself.
Since childhood, I was very keen on art. My parents always knew that I’ll be choosing art as my career, and they always supported me. Unfortunately, we had very less knowledge and information about art courses as there was no internet and very few around me were into arts.
In the year 2002, when I was about 14 years old, I met Mr Madhusudhan Chitnis. He was a retired schoolteacher. He transformed my art to another level, and I still follow the basics he taught me. I did commercial arts (Bachelor of Fine arts) from D.Y. Patil, Pune college in 2010 and I started working as a graphic designer but working on a computer was not my cup of tea.
Later I got married in 2012 and thereafter years passed with all household chores and raising my daughter. When we were in the USA, I used to watch Caroline Jariwala’s YouTube channel and was obsessed with her art of mosaicking, as I always liked making bigger art with small pieces like we did collages with paper pieces in school. Then I decided to give it a try.
I got all my tools from the USA, we moved back to India and I did a lot of experiments with mosaics. I failed abruptly initially but kept on trying.
People around me, who had absolutely no clue what I was up to, ended up thinking I was crazy. I didn’t have much space for the material I had ordered, tiles were all around my house. Eventually, I managed to complete a few projects for my own house.
I started mosaicking professionally in 2020. People started observing and appreciating my work. I made many outdoor mosaics in two years, which couldn’t be possible without my dear husband’s installation skills! Today, I have my own mini studio with huge artworks popping up and I feel like a boss when I cut glass!!
How did you start making mosaics and how long ago was that?
I made my first mosaic in Feb 2018, it was 2×4 ft for a wall. I made a scenery, a very basic one, it had sunrise with calming water and some greenery, I call it Sunshine. My Mom and I somehow managed to install it on a wall of our balcony. Pretty huge for a first-timer but I don’t know what stroked my mind and made me get 5 to 6 boxes of tiles, a roll of mesh, adhesive, and grouts, basically a very big start to begin with. No, it wasn’t easy at all, I was messed up and knew no one who could guide me. Still, I was sure that I wanted to make mosaics and after all “Rome was not built in a day!”
What are your preferred mosaic materials?
I work with stained glass, vitreous tiles and ceramic tiles. I also like to use broken jewellery and glass beads. Every material has its own beauty.
Do tell us about the kind of mosaics you have made and those you plan to make in the future.
I have done many outdoor mosaics on walls, most of them were nameplates. I have recently made a tropical mosaic mural with stained glass which is around 80 sqft wide. I’m planning to make more intricate mosaic murals of Indian Gods and Goddesses.
Where do you find inspiration for your compositions?
I find inspiration from nature, Indian art, and the people around me.
What is the typical size of your mosaics? How long does it take you on average to complete a mosaic? How many hours of a day do you work on an ongoing project?
I have made coasters of 4X4 inches and also a wall mural on a 17×5 ft wall. The typical size of a nameplate is around 15×20 inches, and it takes me around 5-6 days. I used to work for almost 6 hours but now I hardly work for 2 hours a day as I have 8 months old baby to raise.
What challenges have you encountered in mosaic-making?
Lack of knowledge was the biggest challenge initially but at later stages, I came across artists who guided me. Kanika Singh from Mini Mason was the first one I spoke to, and she guided me selflessly. Also would like to mention Renu Sharma from Delhi and Anand Kale from Pune, for answering my fatuous questions.
What do you like about Mosaic-making as an art?
Everything 🙂
It’s an amazing art, versatile, most durable with easy maintenance.
What is your Wishlist for mosaics as art in India?
I wish mosaics to be a part of the curriculum in all art colleges in India. Students must have a basic idea about this art.
What is your advice to a new mosaic learner who is based in India?
It’s too early to give advice as I’m still learning but the things I realised during the process are….
- Start slow, start small but the key is perseverance
- Must Attend mosaic workshops
Are there any learning resources or mosaic artists you would like to point new learners to?
- Caroline Jariwala’s Mango Mosaics (Youtube Channel) is very useful.
- DIY kits can be of great help for beginners. One can source it from many mosaic artists on Facebook and Instagram.
Any mosaic or art-based philosophy that you’d like to be known by?
Work hard to create great things!
Do share with us some of your creations and links to your website/gallery.
https://www.instagram.com/pieces_mosaichub/
https://www.facebook.com/Pieces.mosaicpune/
The best of my work is yet to come!
Archita Sanganal is a mosaicist based in Pune, Maharashtra, India. She takes commission requests for functional, decorative and architectural mosaics. She can be reached through her Facebook page titled Pieces a Mosaic Hub (https://www.facebook.com/Pieces.mosaicpune/).
Some Mosaics by Archita Sanganal:
