Foggy Lady - the film
Mali is a visual artist specialising in paper art. Her passion for paper comes from its diverse and unique characteristics; transparent and fragile in some cases, while being dense and massive in others. Mali sculpts and paints with paper pulp made from various kinds of paper, both existing and self-made with the addition of natural pigments.
The concept of Foggy Lady comes from Mali’s concern about the environmental challenges facing the planet – specifically air pollution in India. Delhi is the world’s worst city in terms of air pollution. Foggy Lady tells the story of how the rich colours of India will gradually turn to unclear and foggy colours. The contrast highlights the duality of our existence in this fragile world. An bright illusion of hope can be presented but, in reality, the truth is the opposite. The piece also makes comment on the western world’s dependence on locating heavily polluting textile industries in poor countries for purely economic reasons.
The design and concept for Foggy Lady was submitted prior to the emergence of COVID-19. It included gloves and a facemask as a barrier and protection from the outside world. Mali notes hoe now – in these pandemic times – gloves and masks are a necessary part of life.
Materials: Paper waste, handmade paper and natural pigments.
Images: ‘Foggy Lady’ – The Garments in Progress.
Images: Papermaking and Paper Pulp for ‘Foggy Lady’.
Images: Paper and design sketches - 'Foggy Lady'.