Moulded

The future of art rests in pottery -- testify 40 studio potters from India and Australia, who're showcasing their work at Indian Habitat Centre

Morningsu00a0are incomplete without several rounds of tea. But why should only the tea leaf take the credit for
the morning kick, and not the beautiful ceramic tea set in which the tea is served? Pottery is amazing, not just when we look at it from the utilitarian point of view but also as an art work just like the studio potters, who create ceramic numbers that look as wonderful as Husains and Picassos. These people with contemporary pull prove that it's time the limits of pottery are pushed beyond kumhaars (potters). Continue reading as we tell you about the extraordinary show, The Golden Earth.u00a0

First impression
The moment you enter the gallery, the fresh takes of ceramic stun you with their gloss and finish. Angad Vohra's line of handmade works is an instant hit. The Auroville-based artist has
created bins that have witty one liners embossed on them. "I have given metallic touches to my creations, which is rarely seen. Pottery still isn't bracketed with art but soon it will be because
several artists are working full time on it. For many artists like me, it is the bread and butter. Earlier, modern equipment was not available in the country, now they are."

Legacy to take care of
The exhibition has been organised by the Delhi Blue Pottery Trust, which has been promoting pottery since 1952 through its two studios, workshops, lectures and exhibitions.

Says Mansimran Singh, who is now carrying the legacy of his father Sardar Gurcharan Singh: "My father introduced studio pottery in India, and we held our first exhibition in 1984. Pottery has immense potential, just like the canvas. I'm trying to fulfill my father's vision. If we spot talent, money is not the issue.

We provide all the required backing to potters who have talent but no money. Such backing is necessary if you want to give a fillip to pottery. Else, it will just be limited to tea sets." Rightly said.u00a0

THE Tallest pot. Is it?
The highlight of the show is a pot which the organisers claim to be the tallest. However, when asked if the 'record' has been certified by a proper authority, the organisers say that it's in process. The creation is not that appealing but the artist behind it is a gem ufffd Giri Raj Prasad (above).

The national award winning pottery artist was invited to make a 5-feet high diya at the memorial of Rajiv Gandhi. He says, "It was very tough." The so-called tallest pot has been made over a period of two months, with soil from Haryana, Rajasthan and Ghaziabad.

"No single type of soil is appropriate for such a big pot. The soil in Haryana is too weak because it has a lot of sand particles and the one in Rajasthan is too rocky. So I had to use a mix of soils from three regions. Small layers are put over one another and it is allowed to dry for a complete month. Then it had to be picked by 10 people to place it in the furnace for heating.

Twelve hours of firing at 850 degrees was needed. Even a slightest change is temperature could change the shape of the object. Because had the temperature gone beyond 900 degrees, all effort would have been wasted.

At: Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road
On till: November 18
Timings: 11am to 7pm
Ring: 43663333