Paper wizard to teach tricks in Mumbai workshop

A paper automaton that Bharadwaj has created the popout house that we tried a hand at PicsAshish RajeTheres a certain trepidation with which we ask Samir Bharadwaj do you also make paper planes After all to a 38yearold graphic and paper designer whose body of work includes a popup hotel for a Dubai firm made according to architectural specifications this might be an over simplification of his art His answer however puts us at ease At one point he says he could make 15 different types of paper planes from just memoryBut no today sadly isnt about paper planes Its much more than that Bharadwaj who has been practicing paper craft since he was three years old he started with origami lessons from his father is going to lead us through the basic steps of creating our very own popup The artist who moved to Mumbai last year having spent much of his life in the Gulf runs a website and Facebook page where he discusses the craft Since last year he has also been conducting workshops for adults with help from artiste manager Minjal KadakiaPeople see paper craft as something for kids to develop motor coordination We dont see it as a sophisticated medium the way we see igh art he says even as he fishes out a paper automaton It took him he says an hour to make that but much more to design Our popup thankfully is going to be much simplerBharadwaj draws out a paper from the many that are inside his bag placing it on the glass table in front of us With quick movements he draws a house a classic one with slating roofs French windows on the first floor and interestingly only three windows on the ground floor the pencils nib broke one last frustrating time and we just let it be Most people who come into the workshop are afraid to draw almost certain that they cant So to make the process comfortable for them I just leave the cutting to them he saysHe places a rubber mat beneath the paper which we use as a cutting base And our weapon for today is a scalpel pen that comes with its own warning dont press it too hard else you may break the nib Our instinct is to start from the outer edges of course but Bharadwaj who is carefully slicing through the windows says its best to work inside first Cutting through the outside edges will increase the tension on the windows making the paper weaker Theres more science to this than youd have guessed With the scalpel in our hand we try slicing out the window But it takes quite a few tries to even get the 1 cm square box right Practice helps he assures us The windows done we then work on the doors and windowsIt takes altogether another skill to draw out the curves on the windows hold the pen and move the wrist in a completely different fashion Much concentration is required Another reason people like the workshop is because they are working with their hands creating something and dont realise how times gone by Its two hours and they havent touched their phone he says The walls are the last to pop out and one is mildly better than at the beginning Bharadwaj adds the last cut and there right in front of us is our first popup card the house with a missing windowTo sign up for one of Bharadwajs workshops log on to the Papernautic website httppapernauticcom or follow him on Facebook https wwwfacebookcomPapernauticCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates