Seventeen ceramic artists from Auroville and Puducherry will come together this weekend to display their work at the 7th Auroville International Potters’ Market. The market, started in 2015 by Auroville potter, Ange Peter, is an invitation to visitors to meet the artists behind the work, and take home some souvenirs.
Puneet Brar of Windglaze Pottery Studio says that the highlight of this event is the array of handcrafted ceramic pottery. “The incredible possibilities of this craft can be seen at this potters’ market and the idea is to spread awareness about this craft. Ceramic pottery straddles both art and craft and as a result, each artist comes with unique creations. Every year we draw visitors from all over the country,” she said.
In Auroville, many artists take a hands-on approach, doing everything from scratch. Some artists start by making clay, building their firing oven or kiln, mixing glazes, and adding pigments. “We have a tent exclusively for young adults where one can try their hand at pottery and understand why this is such a nourishing experience,” Puneet said.
Soda fired creation by Tosha Parmar
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Special Arrangement
According to Adil Writer of Mandala Pottery, Auroville, each of these artists will present their very own style of ceramic creations, be it tableware, wall tiles, home decor, garden decor, sculpture or jewellery.
The list of participating artists include: Adil Writer and Tosha Parmar, Mandala Pottery; Anna Morozova, Masha and Saraswati, Have Fun Pottery; Ashwini Evgenia Gladkaya, Very Glad Art Studio; Harsh Patel Indrani Singh Cassime, Phoenix Potteries; Mimi, Studio Kiara ; Nalini Dharan, Klaykarma studio; Nausheen Bari, Bhu Ceramics; Priya Sundaravalli, Pottery Sigapu; Puneet Brar, Wind Glaze Pottery; Rakhee Kane, Aavartan Pottery; Ranjita Bora, Ranjita Bora Ceramics; Sabrina Srinivas, Kalabhumi Pottery Studio.
Visitors can view each artist’s interpretations and observe the techniques they use. From functional objects to exhibition-worthy sculptural pieces, the market will have objects starting from ₹200 onwards.
Tosha Parmar has specially designed a range of tableware that is soda-fired to a toasty brown and olive green. Adil has soda-fired sculptural teapots and related tea-accessories, made of porcelain, which are wood-fired in an atmospheric firing technique where ‘soda’ is sprayed into the kiln near peak temperature, usually over 1200 degrees centigrade, nearly 20 hours into the firing. The results speak for themselves and make people understand why Mandala Pottery and Rakhee Kane’s Aavartan Pottery are passionate about this very specific firing technique.
Creation by Anna Morozo
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
A stand-alone exhibition, titled, “No Metaphors, Please!”, will feature works of the participating ceramic artists. “In today’s art world, spewing metaphors has become fashionable. There is way too much to read on a wall, to understand why something is sitting in the middle of a room under a spotlight. Puneet Brar and I decided to have a show that is a collection of beautifully made objects, which one sees for what they are, first; and then decides to get metaphorical with them.” said Adil.
K Palanisamy, a traditional master-potter from Pudukottai, has been invited to demonstrate his craft at the market on all three days. He will be creating Ayyanar horses, elephants and other traditional figures at the venue.
@Visitor Center Auroville (Tamil Nadu) Puducherry, January 24 to 26, 11 am to 6 pm. Entry is free. For details, call 9884120010
Published – January 23, 2025 09:49 am IST
The Hindu MetroPlus
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arts, culture and entertainment
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sherds and pottery
