Coffee Cup & Canvas: Linocut Workshop & Installation by Kapila Nahender

Linocut Printmaking - The Workshop

A workshop exploring printmaking techniques to create coffee-themed labels and coasters. Participants will use the linocut method to produce bold, graphic, and textural designs that celebrate the handcrafted spirit shared by both coffee culture and printmaking. The artwork will draw connections between the ritual of drinking coffee and the tactile process of carving and printing, emphasizing slowness, authenticity, and sensory richness. Each piece will embody the uniqueness of a brew and the individuality of a hand-carved print.

Coffee Cup & Canvas - The Installation

This project is an interactive installation that weaves together coffee, fabric, and community participation. Coffee beans will be transformed into a natural pigment and applied to large fabric canvases, creating surfaces that function as both visual artworks and sensory experiences. The coffee-stained fabrics will highlight the earthy textures, aromas, and tones of coffee.

During the exhibition, visitors will be invited to engage with the installation through touch, sight, and smell, immersing themselves in the materiality of the work. By using coffee not only as a beverage but also as an artistic medium, the project explores themes of ritual, craft, and connection—blurring the boundaries between everyday consumption and creative expression. The installation seeks to cultivate a shared space of dialogue and immersion, where the warmth of coffee and the tactility of fabric converge into a collective artwork, shaped by both artist and audience, and dissolving the divide between the two.
 
Kapila Nahender, a Bangalorean with diverse influences, believes that "The earth without art is just eh." She inherited a legacy of travel and culture from her parents, who introduced her to various traditions. Educated at Bishop Cotton Girls’ High School and Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, her art world expanded significantly at M.S. University, Baroda, where she was mentored by prominent artists. She returned to academia two decades later, earning a Master’s in Printmaking from Bangalore University with a gold medal.

Now, she runs Kapila Nahender Atelier, a printmaking studio in Bangalore. Mentored by Suresh Jayaram of 1Shanthiroad, she finds inspiration in his guidance. Kapila's work, which includes painting, printmaking, and restoration, reflects her concern for the urban environment and her interest in spirituality. She also enjoys exploring her city’s history.