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    City’s hidden gem: Kirigami artist Ramesh

    In the 1960s, a variation of origami that includes cutting of the paper — rather than solely folding it — was coined as kirigami, where kiri means to cut and kami means paper. For the past two decades, a Chennaiite has been practising this dainty art form and today, has 8,500-odd creations to his name.

    City’s hidden gem: Kirigami artist Ramesh
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    (L) Kagitha Sirpi Ramesh, (R) The award-winning alphabet kirigami (above) a creation of his (Bottom)

    Chennai

    Meet Ramesh, a resident of OMR, who has been awarded the title ‘Kagidha Sirpi’ (sculptor of paper) for his intricate paper cuttings. He uses a single sheet of paper to carve symmetrical designs that are as delicate as the petals of a flower. Funnily enough, he didn’t know what he was doing was called kirigami, until a few years ago.

    He narrates, “My love for paper cutting began when I was in school. I studied in St Fracis Xavier School, Mylapore, and during Christmas, each class had to decorate one part of the campus. I would use kathaadi (kite) paper and cut it into different patterns.” Wowed by the boy’s skills, owners of shops in Ramesh’s neighbourhood would invite him to decorate their stores during festivals like Ayudha Pooja. “I would cut flowers and other patterns from colour paper and hang it up. As a return gift, I would get saathukudi (sweet lime) and some podis (spice powders),” he recollects.

    Alas, when Ramesh failed to clear his Class 10 Board Exams, he applied to be a steward in the high court and continued to pursue kirigami as a hobby. “I would steal scissors from my father’s shaving kit and cut calendar paper into designs. He would chide me for it but it didn’t stop me,” he smiles.

    When he got the opportunity to display his art in a government-aided exhibition, he took his most intricate pieces along. He says, “The first person to buy my work was DMK Leader MK Stalin after paying Rs 2,000.” During the course of the exhibition, many school and college students and foreigners visited his stall. “One of them asked me whom I had learnt this art form from and I told them I was self-taught. The visitor then opened up a laptop and explained to me that what I was doing is called kirigami,” he shares.

    Every kirigami artist has a unique style, thus no two people’s works are exactly the same. A classic example of this is the piece that won Ramesh the Poompuhar State Award (Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited). He tells us, “96 people participated from across the state and I won the first prize. Using an eight-inch fluorescent paper and a tiny pair of scissors, I cut the 26 alphabets without any breakage in the paper — whichever side you look at it from, you can see the letters.”

    This Kagitha Sirpi eventually began teaching in schools and colleges. “It was through some students I met in Anna University, who pooled in money to get me a copyright for the A-Z paper cutting. In fact, I would like to advise a textile company to use this design as an inspiration to create an ‘alphabet’ saree,” he says. Before concluding, he shares, “Within my lifetime, I want to also start a school for kirigami where I can teach students and help preserve this art form.”

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