Juhi Kundu
Juhi Kundu’s creative journey is one that blends the worlds of art, science, and engineering. From a young age, Juhi was drawn to activities that fostered her creative thinking and problem-solving skills, setting the stage for a unique approach to art and innovation. "Growing up, there were two main activities that, I now realize, fostered my creative thinking and problem-solving skills today: dance and crafting," she reflects. These early experiences shaped her eye for visual elegance and instilled in her an appreciation for the technical details that bring any creative endeavor to life.
A Childhood of Creative Exploration
Juhi’s early years were marked by a deep engagement with various forms of art. "Doing ballet from such a young age shaped my eye for visual elegance and helped me appreciate all the technical details that brought a performance to life," she shares. In addition to ballet, she took visual art classes where she honed her skills in drawing and painting, further deepening her understanding of the artistic process.
But Juhi’s creativity didn’t stop at 2D and performing arts. She was also engrossed in 3D art, constantly finding potential in everyday objects to create something new. "I often saw the potential to make crafts out of things around my house," she says. One of her earliest examples of this ingenuity was saving the plastic packaging from Barbie doll boxes to repurpose them as sliding doors for her homemade dollhouse or windows for a doll car. These childhood projects were early indicators of her ability to combine aesthetics with functionality, a skill that would become a cornerstone of her later work.
The Intersection of Art and Engineering
As Juhi grew older, she began to merge her love for art with her passion for science and engineering. This fusion of disciplines led her to innovative thinking, particularly in the realm of sustainability. "Just like I did when crafting items for my dolls, I often found inspiration from things around my house," she explains. A perfect example of this is her inspiration for a sustainable roofing solution. After learning about cool roofs—roofs painted white to reflect heat during the summer—Juhi began to question how this concept could be adapted for winter use. "Looking around my room, I spotted my sequin pillowcase that, when brushed one way or another, could change colors," she recalls. This simple, yet elegant design inspired her idea to create shingles that could flip like sequins, allowing a roof to change from white to black depending on the season.
Juhi’s ability to draw inspiration from everyday items and apply them to real-world problems is a testament to her innovative spirit. Her work reflects a commitment to addressing challenges related to climate change and sustainability by integrating artistic creativity with practical engineering solutions. "I have also learned that it is sometimes the most ordinary items that have the most clever designs," she notes, emphasizing how these discoveries motivate her to keep creating.
Crafting a Sustainable Future
Looking ahead, Juhi is committed to continuing her journey of combining elegance with purpose. Her experiences have taught her that creativity and sustainability are not mutually exclusive, but rather, can be harmoniously united to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues. "As I continue to innovate by combining elegance and purpose, I am committed to crafting a future where creativity and sustainability seamlessly unite," she asserts.
Juhi Kundu’s artistic and scientific endeavors are a powerful reminder that the fusion of disciplines can lead to groundbreaking ideas. Through her work, she continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, offering a vision of a future where art and science collaborate to create sustainable, innovative solutions for a better world.
