This art is no tough nut to crack & you shell out little

Empty coconut shells are often handed over to a waste picker or left discarded at public spaces. However, here are a few inspiring citizens from the city who turn them into creative artworks. 

Nandini Subramanya, who provides customised craft and art products, including recycled items, under the banner ‘Craft World,’ makes beautiful doll hangings out of the shells.

She said that the advantage of shell crafts lay in its simplicity and easy availability of coconut shells.

“All you need to create a simple piece of coconut shell artwork is neatly broken shells, paints and decorative items (if necessary) to make it more eye-catching,” said Nandini, a resident of Banasawadi.

Dhananjaya Balan, an ambulance driver at Manipal Hospitals, works 12 hours a day and in the little free time he gets, collects shells from hotels and his house to turn them into art pieces. His first work was a simple lamp stand that was made using two to three empty coconut shells.

“I was inspired to take up coconut shell craft after watching ‘Do It Yourself’ videos. I see shells often lying discarded and hence, decided to make something useful out of them. Recently, I made a baby lion using sand paper, discarded screws, nails and seven shells. Right now, I  am making a Ganesha idol using the shells,” he said.

Shankar Rao, who works for a waste water treatment company, makes piggybanks, ashtrays, pen holders and other interesting household items out of coconut shells in a creative way.  “I felt why throw away coconut shells when we can create so many useful products out of them,” said Rao.