From taxi driver to artist: Shimla’s Bhandari explores his artistic side

Bored during the Covid-19 lockdown, Bharat Bhandari, a taxi driver from Vikasnagar in Shimla, decided to turn his idle time into an opportunity to explore his artistic side. What began as an experiment with woollen threads has now transformed into a unique art form — thread paintings — that is capturing hearts at an ongoing exhibition on The Mall in Shimla.

Amid the nationwide lockdown, as Covid-19 cases surged across the country and the state, Bhandari found himself confined at home with little to do. It was during this period that inspiration struck. Taking out some threads, he began weaving them into intricate portraits, marking the beginning of a passion that would grow over the years.

Encouraged by the response to his early creations, Bhandari continued to refine his technique. Among his notable works is a thread portrait of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, which he gifted to him last year. The artwork caught the attention of Shimla Mayor Surinder Chauhan, who appreciated Bhandari’s talent and offered to support him by organising an exhibition-cum-sale to showcase his paintings.

Speaking to The Tribune, Bhandari shared that his collection now includes a wide range of subjects — from religious figures such as gods and goddesses to beloved cartoon characters like Nobita and Doraemon.

“It usually takes 10 to 15 days to complete one painting,” he said. “I use woollen thread, colours and gum to embed the designs onto a sheet. I also had the opportunity to exhibit my work at a Navodaya School in Una. It feels great to see my hard work finally being recognised.”

Looking ahead, Bhandari expressed his desire for government support to help take his artwork to national and international platforms. He also hopes to train aspiring young artists in this distinctive art form.

Beyond thread paintings, Bhandari is also involved in crafting furniture from dried-up tree roots, a project he works on with his friend Ravi. This creative endeavour aligns with the Municipal Corporation Shimla’s Waste to Wonder campaign, which repurposes deodar tree trunks into eco-friendly furniture for public spaces.

Mayor Chauhan said hundreds of trees fall across the state each year, often going to waste. “To address this, we’ve started converting these wooden trunks into functional furniture. The aim is not only to promote sustainability but also to support artists like Bharat Bhandari — providing them with a livelihood while putting waste to productive use.”

Himachal Tribune