Bengaluru, India

Bengaluru, India

Bengaluru, India

Deccan Herald Sunday, March 15, 2009

Swiss artist designs pyramid with recycled material
Satchets, empty plastic covers, gutka packets, all put to use
R Venkatesh, Bangalore, Deccan Herald News Service:
Namaskara, a Swiss artist Marc Lee welcomes you in his foreign accent to his dream structure 'pyramid' covered with recycled material and shiny plastic waste, acting as chimes.

Marc, the pied piper of Janakiram Layout, Lingarajpuram, has roped in dozens of local youth and children and erected a 16 feet tall (20/20 width) pyramid, adjacent to Banaswadi railway station.

The pyramid is constructed using recycled materials ––– sachet, empty tetra packing material, used shampoo, gutka packets, milk covers---which are stitched and then hung. When the wind blows, these colourful plastic materials create a rustling sound and acts like chimes, says Marc.

In keeping with the tradition, the plan is to feed the locals and inaugurate the pyramid on Sunday, Marc added. Meditation classes, apart from games and stories-telling are also lined up for the function.

Marc calls out his local friends Naga, Malla, Selvakumar and dozens of names. They are up on their toes and quickly respond in broken English. But the smile on their faces is enough to send a message as to how much they like him and their involvement in the project. Naga says: “Now, our place is quite clean as we have collected most of the waste.”

Apart from artistic visions, Marc from Zurich, a vegetarian who practices yoga regularly, was keen to erect a pyramid and educate the slum dwellers on the essence of cosmic energy, especially while meditating and playing under the pyramid.

When asked why he chose a place adjoining the railway track, Marc told Deccan Herald, “It was an instant love for the place and people. Though there is a vast contrast from the place I come from," he said.