Vilasini Reddy’s studio in her Jubilee Hills home spills to her living room and the family garage. Yet, the potter thinks she is not doing enough. The display of works in her studio includes pieces sent by other potters. She displays their creations as a mark of appreciation for their hard work, skill and attention to detail. Vilasini says, “Some of the works on display here belong to others, who send it to me to showcase their work. Ever since I have initiated Potters Market in Hyderabad in 2019 I have been introduced to many talented potters from across the country.”
Some of the potters to look forward to at the Hyderabad Potters market are Manpreeth Singh Nishter (MSN Pottery), Claysutra by Carmel, Sandhya Kiran Chiluvuri and Ashish Chowdhary among others. “This year I have asked participating potters to include pop art. This season is going to be beyond mugs, saucers and bowls,” adds Vilasini. More than 40 artists will be at the Hyderabad Potters Market.
Vilasini was initiated into pottery by her sister and before she knew it, she was drawn into the art of working with clay.
In her studio, she adds final touches of paint to a piece that needs to be fired and readied for the show this weekend (January 18-19). On the same table are beautiful painted plates left to dry, and ready to go in the kiln. The drying process is simple. The finished pieces are carefully wrapped in layers of paper and plastic. This, she explains, is the natural process of drying and makes an object less prone to cracks and breakage when it is sent for firing.
One of Vilasini’s lines is inspired by underwater life — corals, sea urchins, jelly fish.
Does Vilasini name her pottery collection? The artist laughs, “I have begun doing it now. I made a collection titled ‘howla gadu’ (foolish guy). This line flew off the racks even before I could put it up for any show. This collection was all about twisted broken pots telling the story of a man.”
Vilasini’s pottery reflects her knowledge of different aspects of art. “I used to paint, I still do. Crocheting and knitting also keep me busy. Pottery takes a bigger chunk of my time. It is messy but it is the mess that creates beauty.”
Her crochet pieces are used on wet clay to get the impression on the design on clay. She explains that this gives the desired definition when painted. “I have many such ideas; some of them go on to become monsters when I take it up. Beautiful monsters in terms of the time and energy that it demands.”
Vilasini with a few of her works at her Jubilee Hills home
| Photo Credit:
Sanjay Borra
Talking about appreciation for pottery, Vilasini speaks on behalf of potters when she says, “It is a niche market. The appreciation for not-so-perfect pieces (handmade is never smooth and perfect) is not common. Handmade is cumbersome, time consuming and we use superior quality of clay. All this adds to the price tag when compared to industrial, commercial clay products. Our cups and saucers don’t come out of a frame. It is all done by hand. Imperfections are a part of the look. This is tough to explain to those new to the world of handmade pottery. Potters from other States tell me that Hyderabad is a much better market.”
(Hyderabad Potters Market will be held at Saptaparni, Banjara Hills, January 18 and 19, 10.30am to 8pm.
Published – January 16, 2025 02:23 pm IST
