Bengaluru: Lalbagh’s fallen giants reborn as living art

Bengaluru: Fallen old trees at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden are finding new life as the second National Wood Carving Workshop began in the botanical garden on Friday.

The 15-day workshop hosts 48 experts from across districts to carve wood and teach carving to students of visual arts and other disciplines.

Wood for the workshop comes from Lalbagh’s fallen trees, some about 150 years old, brought down by root cavity, wind or rain.

Speaking to DH, Shivaprasad, member, Karnataka Shilpakala Academy, said, "We have mahogany and nilgiri wood. This year, we plan to carve flora and fauna. Artists will be given time and inspiration. The 150-200-year-old trees can now be preserved for another 150-200 years."

The final works will be preserved in the Open-Air Wood Museum in Lalbagh.

"Products from 2018 are currently in the museum, preserved with help from Wood Institute scientists. We intend to display this year’s work in another location and make it more interactive for the public," said Dr M Jagadeesh, Joint Director of Horticulture.

Participants at the second edition of the wood carving workshop at Lalbagh Botanical Garden on Friday. DH PHOTO/PUSHKAR V

The wood is laminated every two years and maintained with pesticides and other chemicals as advised by scientists, depending on weather exposure.

Participants at the second edition of the wood carving workshop at Lalbagh Botanical Garden on Friday. DH PHOTO/PUSHKAR V

AN Yellappa Reddy, environment expert, said, "It is important that art is given prominence here. More people should get involved and bring their children to understand the importance of art and nature. This is one of those arts that does not harm nature."

Wood statues of a fish and dog from the previous workshop were presented at the inauguration.