An Indian-born doctor from Bolton will be displaying her fabric collages in a solo exhibition in London this September.

Recently retired hospital consultant histopathologist Dr Aruna Mene, who was born in Nagpur, has lived in the UK for over 30 years and will show upto 35 pieces of her unique work in a solo exhibition at Nehru Centre, Mayfair, London from September 23 to 27, 2019. 

She will also be displaying crafty things like rag rugs, fabric rope baskets, cushion covers and possibly wearable art - all from fabric waste and recycled textiles. There will be art greeting cards from images of her collages and some embroidered greeting cards. 

Asian Image:

Sakura and Mount Fuji fabric collage on canvas 

Asian Image:

Lone skier fabric collage on canvas

“My mother was a very innovative and artistic woman and I was always surrounded by fabrics and that triggered my interest in textiles from a young age,” recalls Aruna, who started making fabric collages, initially as mixed media. For the last 12 years she has been making pure fabric collages. 

She has since developed her own technique of using heat, bonding the fabric scraps to the canvas, wants to make people aware of the damaging effects of textile and fabric waste. Her creations show how beautiful objects can be produced from it. 

Asian Image:

St Basil's Cathedral Moscow fabric collage on canvas 

Aruna, who was awarded a certificate of highly commended in the category of art, film and media as an inspirational woman in the North West, has organised workshops on rag rugs and has a fabric collage workshop planned for the future.

She volunteers at The Ferns Primary Academy in Farnworth - a socially deprived area of Bolton - and teaches fabric collage, already completing three projects with them with more planned in the next few months. 

All profits from the sale of her collages and craft work are donated to various charities in the UK and India including Bolton Hospice and the Leprosy treatment and rehabilitation centre, 'Anandwan'.