“This Ganesh Chaturthi, I carved a miniature Lord Ganesha on a pencil lead. It is 23 mm in height and 8 mm in width, and it took me around six hours to finish.

Working on pencil leads has always been a test of patience for me.

I grew up in Chinadoddigallu, a small village in Visakhapatnam. As a child, I often watched Etikoppaka artisans at work. That is where I learnt that even the smallest creations can hold meaning.

At 14, I made my first miniature Lord Ganesha using glass bangles. My parents encouraged me, though others felt it had no future. I kept going, and over time I created more than 600 miniature works, from monuments like the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower to pieces honouring the Indian Air Force.

On Maha Shivaratri this year, I also carved Lord Shiva’s Thandavam on an 18 mm pencil lead.

People often ask why I choose such a fragile medium. For me, that fragility is the challenge and the beauty of it.

Even though I studied abroad and now work as a Project Coordinator, miniature art has stayed with me. Recently, I was able to showcase it in the US, which was a proud moment.”

— Dr Venkatesh Gattem