MDU students to transform 200 kg of waste paper into folk-art mural
Around 200 kg of discarded paper will find a new life as a large folk-art mural at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), where 30 fine arts students are using paper-mâché to blend Haryanvi cultural heritage with sustainable art.
Girish Saini
Oct 14, 2026 08:40
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Rohtak, October 13, 2026: Around 200 kg of discarded paper will find a new life as a large folk-art mural at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), where 30 fine arts students are using paper-mâché to blend Haryanvi cultural heritage with sustainable art.
Guided by Head of visual arts department, Dr Sanjay Kumar, the students will create two-foot circular panels featuring motifs inspired by Haryanvi folk art, Indian traditional art forms and cultural symbols. The panels will be assembled into a single indoor installation, with the project expected to be completed in about a month.
The paper pulp will be blended with glue, multani mitti, guar, tamarind-seed-based material and aloe vera to give it strength and texture. Red, blue and yellow pigments will be incorporated during the preparation process.
BFA third-year students are involved in every stage, from preparing the pulp to shaping, designing and assembling the panels. The project aims to provide hands-on experience in traditional craft techniques and collaborative art-making while demonstrating how discarded material can be turned into an artistic resource.
The department had earlier completed a similar papier-mâché project with second-year students. Dr Kumar said the expanded initiative seeks to promote Haryanvi folk art, encourage innovation in traditional techniques and advance environmentally conscious art practices.
