Banana stem paper workshop held in Visakhapatnam

Agricultural leftovers seldom attract attention inside an art studio. At Studio Arthauz in Visakhapatnam, however, the fibrous core of a banana stem became the centrepiece of an unusual creative exercise recently. The three-day workshop titled ‘Peel to Paper’ introduced participants to the craft of transforming banana stem fibre into archival handmade paper.

The programme unfolded as a rigorous, hands-on exploration of material, process and patience. Hosted at the studio’s workspace located at PM Palem from morning until evening, the workshop drew artists, art students, and curious learners eager to understand how plant waste can acquire a second life through craft.

Art students drawing on the banana pulp paper during the workshop at Studio Arthauz in Visakhapatnam.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The opening day began with the participants chopping sections of banana stems and placing the fibrous strips into large vessels for boiling. Hours later, the softened fibre was pounded and ground into a thick pulp. The group then washed and cleaned the pulp carefully, balancing the acidity levels to ensure the finished sheets would remain durable and stable over time.

The next day, participants dipped wooden mesh frames into tubs of diluted pulp and lifted the frames slowly to allow the fibres to settle into thin layers. Each fragile sheet was transferred onto cotton cloth and pressed flat before being left to dry naturally. Subtle variations in fibre density created delicate textures, giving every sheet its own character.

The final day shifted attention from craft to expression. Once the sheets had dried, participants experimented with drawing, folding and collage, exploring how the textured banana paper responded to ink, graphite, and paint.

Vanama Prasanth, teaching technical assistant at the Department of Fine Arts, Andhra University, guided the workshop through the various stages. “Banana stem fibre carries good strength once it is reduced to pulp and properly washed,” he says.

Studio Arthauz, founded in 2025 by D Hari Prasad and Keerthi Duruggada, is a meeting ground for art experimentation. The studio aims to conduct workshops periodically on various mediums.