MAKING HANDICRAFTS FROM COCONUT HUSK
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| Sivanandan, Thoppuvilakath, Vedivachan Koil, Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram |
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Humble
coconut husk is a potential medium of art in his hands.
Sivanandan of Thoppuvilakath, Vedivachan Koil, Balaramapuram,
Thiruvananthapuram carves out exquisite figures from them.
After
removing water and kernel from the coconut, the husk, together with the
shell, is used for making figures like chimpanzee, dinosaur, mother and
child, Christ, Sree Krishna, Gandhiji, Vivekanandan, Mother Theresa etc.
Inspiration
for turning his attention to this field came 5 years ago when he visited
an exhibition of handicrafts at Thiruvananthapuram.
He was attracted by the figure of a monkey make of coconut husk.
He bought one home and tried to make something similar.
With the help of his wife and children, he was soon able to convert
his work into an income-generating venture.
Earlier,
as a high school drop-out, Sivanandan had learned wood carving to earn a
living. This experience
became handy when he tried his hand at husk-based handicrafts.
He uses a small chisel and blade to carve on the husk.
His
wife Gomathy and daughters Bindu and Sindhu help him in preparing the
husk. His son Biju makes the
plastic eyes and nails of the figures.
As
he doesn’t use gum or paint on the figures, they have an innate
originality and beauty of their own.
The kernel removed from the husk is sold as copra.
Courtesy: Santhosh Uthradan, Malayala Manorama, April 2002
Contributed by: Administrator
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