Repurposing Wood Shop Waste with Bishal Manandhar
Bishal Manandhar (BFA 2020) is inspired by the things most people throw away. In his art practice, he repurposes mundane and discarded objects into thoughtful sculptures and wall hangings. “I want everyone to reconsider their definition of waste and think twice before labelling something as useless just because it no longer serves its original purpose,” he said. “That is what drives me to create.”
As an instructional facility manager at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) 280 Wood Shop, Manandhar has access to a wealth of reusable materials. A recent project, Sand Paper Romance, incorporates sandpaper from the Wood Shop that would have been thrown away. Mounted onto panels, the sandpaper retains the remnants and patterns of the wood it smoothed, creating a history of material and process. “Neglected objects and the things we take for granted in our lives have always been special to me,” he said. “We overlook these things and do not value them at all, despite all the ways they have helped and served us.”
Manandhar is a triple threat: an alum of SAIC’s BFA program, a staff member, and a current student receiving his MFA. He talked with us about his time at SAIC, his history at the Wood Shop, and the ways his job fuels his artistic practice.
How long have you been working at SAIC?
I have been working in the Wood Shop for five years. I started as a student employee in 2018, and then I came in as a part-time staff member, and gradually I became a manager.
As manager of the 280 Wood Shop, my main responsibilities include maintaining all the stationary tools to ensure they run properly and teaching students how to use them safely. I am a resource for students to finalize their ambitious projects through consultation and to provide step-by-step processes. I am also in charge of all student employees and their training.
What drew you to your job at the Wood Shop?
I was drawn to working in the Wood Shop during my undergrad here at SAIC while taking my Intro to Sculpture class. That was where I realized how much I enjoy wood as an art material. I started working at the 280 Wood Shop in my junior year. My hunger for teaching technical knowledge about making things on your own and for sharing useful knowledge with a larger student body is the main attraction for me. On top of that, being around all the creative minds and being able to help them execute their ideas from paper to reality is very satisfying.
In what ways does your staff position feed your art practice, and vice versa?
The 280 Wood Shop is a place where art happens, and creativity explodes through student employees, the general student body, staff members, and faculty. In my art practice, I collect all the waste materials from the shop and give them new life as art. Being able to turn the waste created by the art processes of other artists into my own artworks is an exciting connection for me.
You got your BFA at SAIC, and now you’re receiving your MFA. What keeps you at the School?
I did my associate in fine arts from Harold Washington College, one of the city colleges, and transferred to SAIC. Transferring from a city college to one of the best art schools in the USA is a dream come true, and I was blown away by all the facilities and educational opportunities that the school has to offer. When I graduated with my BFA, I felt like I hadn’t explored all the creative inspirations we have here, and there was still so much I wanted to incorporate into my art practice. The mentoring I am receiving as an MFA continues to push the boundaries of my art practice in exciting ways.
This fall, SAIC Galleries will present two interlinked exhibitions.
