Bengaluru artist turns e-waste into stunning art

February 26, 2025 Innovation Valli Sarvani

Discarded electronics usually end up in landfills, but one artist in Bengaluru sees them as a canvas for creativity.

Vishwanath Mallabadi Davangere, a visionary sculptor, has transformed e-waste into a stunning 25-foot mural at Orion Mall’s Brigade Gateway.

He unveiled his artwork on World Environment Day last year. This unique artwork stands as a powerful statement on recycling and sustainability.

Vishwanath’s passion for both technology and art started in his childhood. Fascinated by machines, he spent years dismantling gadgets to understand their inner workings.

This curiosity, combined with an engineering background, led him to discover beauty in discarded materials.

After spending two decades in the software industry, he chose to pursue his artistic dreams after retirement.

Rather than using traditional materials, he saw potential in electronic waste, breathing new life into broken devices.

For Vishwanath, every discarded gadget tells a story. He believes that once deconstructed, e-waste reveals intricate textures, vibrant colours, and unique shapes.

Over the years, he has taken apart more than a lakh devices, each offering something different for his creations.

But his mission goes beyond art. The rising e-waste crisis pushes him to spread awareness about sustainable practices.

Through workshops, seminars, and exhibitions, he educates people on the importance of upcycling and responsible disposal.

He sources materials from local markets like Chikpete and collaborates with e-waste management firms to reduce environmental impact. Vishwanath’s journey into large-scale e-waste art began with a tiny spider sculpture.

Over time, his projects grew in scale and complexity. In 2004, he set up a studio in Rajajinagar, dedicating long hours to experimenting with discarded components. His association with Orion Mall started two years ago, leading to this year’s grand installation.

Now, he envisions even larger e-waste sculptures but acknowledges the need for support from the government, corporations, and art enthusiasts.

Finding dedicated volunteers with the same enthusiasm is another challenge. While e-waste fuels his art, he urges people to reduce, recycle, and rethink consumption.

He stresses that materials like lithium, cadmium, and other rare metals are depleting.

By transforming waste into art, Vishwanath proves that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand, inspiring a future where creativity drives environmental responsibility.

Image by Alan Levine from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on January 13, 2017