Get a taste of clay

Clay means different things to different people For one person it might evoke childhood memories of shaping clumsy figurines with play dough Another person might be excited at the thought of exquisitely crafted dinnerware and tableware Whether the first thing that comes to your mind is the humble chai ka kulhad or exquisitely sculpted high art both are authentic interpretations of clay says Shayonti Salvi artist ceramic sculptor and curator There are infinite ways to experience clay and this seems to be the underlying philosophy behind MaatiPutr a firstofitskind ceramics festival curated by Salvi and hosted by Kathiwada City house in Worli between October 18 and November 30Sumathi Bandepallirsquos Ceramic FlowersFrom sipping on tea served in terracotta kulhads during a trivia game session designed around ceramics and tasting authentic Kathiwada cuisine made in ceramic cookware to the auditory pleasure of hearing ceramic folklore and a ghatam performance the premise of this festival is ldquoto offer a variety of engagements and interactions with ceramics through multiple sensesrdquo says the artist whose works will also feature in the exhibitions planned as part of the eventFollowing a preview on October 18 the festival kicks off the next day with a showcase of functional but artistic tableware where visitors can view and purchase the ceramics From November 10 to 28 therersquos another showmdashthis time for sculptural ceramics or ldquoart for expressionrsquos sakerdquo as Salvi puts itldquoThe ceramics are all by contemporary artists of our time There are a bunch of Mumbai stalwarts whorsquoll be showing their workmdashDevyani Smith whose work is both functional and artistic Rekha Goyal who does a lot of sensitive work thatrsquos heavy on concept IIT professor Raja Mohanty who teaches at the Industrial Design Centre and practises a technique called crystalline glazesrdquo Salvi says adding ldquoAs Kathiwada City House founder Sangita is from Madhya Pradesh MP ceramics is one of the festivalrsquos themes So there are quite a few MP artists coming in such as Mudita Bhandari a young contemporary artist whose terracotta sculptures are inspired by the experience of spacerdquoShell architecture series 17 by Shayonti Salvi Stoneware fired over 60 hours in an Anagama kilnSalvi highlights another MP artist Nirmala Sharma known for her moving work that was triggered by the loss of her son a military doctor while on duty in Jammu and Kashmir in 1994 After his death Sharmarsquos husband would lay awake at night thinking of a poem She painted that poem on a clay pot she had moulded earlier and that piece became a solace to the bereaved couple Sharma is now wellknown for her clay pots on which she paints poems written by her husband Also on display will be ceramics by Adil Writer from Auroville and Ruby Jhunjhunwala as well as Veena Chandra from Pune along with many other artistsBoth exhibitions are free of charge as is the lecture series taking place on November 22 when expert ceramists will talk about groundbreaking techniques being adopted in India Those interested in ceramics shouldnrsquot sleep on the talks says Salvi adding ldquoWhenever you put a bunch of potters in a room you will be amazed by the variety of technique Newage studio potters have mastered techniques that were previously unheard of in IndiardquoAnother attraction is the venue itselfmdashKathiwada City House which normally operates solely on membership basis will open its doors to all visitors during this festival so itrsquos also a great chance to catch a glimpse of this lush green space in the heart of the city Apart from the showcases and the lectures however the other events will include varying entry feesFrom left Erosion 2 by Motan Sankalpana and a terracotta lamp by Yashashri ShildhankarWhile ceramic festivals are held quite frequently abroad what sets MaatiPutr apart is the inclusion of all the other activities aside from the exhibitions ldquoThere are workshops October 2527 that will entice enthusiasts to get their hands dirty while a game night over kulhad chai October 20 will tickle the child in themrdquo says Salvi adding that the festival has been organised with the help of the Aarti Singal Foundation and an anonymous benefactor supporter identified solely as ldquoSArdquo A canrsquotmiss event is the musical evening on November 15 when visitors can catch a ghatam clay percussion instrument performance by Sumana Chandrashekhar one of the few women in the country to perform on this ancient instrumentPreceding the ghatam performance on the same evening is a ceramic folklore session conducted by artist and curator Shampa Shah ldquoIf you think of the history of clay being used as a tool it originated from the time when humans stopped being huntergatherers and became settlers They needed pots to store grains and water and to eat out of Over time this evolved into high art If you look at Japanese and Chinese pottery in their traditional tea ceremony the pot is highly valued because it is linked to culture We Indians donrsquot realise how much of our history and culture is linked to ceramics If you spend time with tribal folks you realise how important mitti or clay is to themmdashitrsquos an almost spiritual relationship They use it for tools of course but they also mould clay figurines for worshiprdquo says Salvi adding ldquoShampa who has spent time with tribes in MP is like an encyclopaedia of such folklore She will narrate some mythological tales around clay and share some rituals she has witnessed in tribal life It will almost be like a storytelling session for the enthusiastrdquoSangita KathiwadaWhether theyrsquore beginners or aficionados the festival is meant for anybody who wants to get a taste of the world of ceramics figuratively and literally ldquoCeramic artists of course live and breathe clay Therersquos not a single artist who hasnrsquot tasted clay at some point while working in their studiordquo jests Salvi Therersquos a more palatable way to enjoy the flavour of clay though with the finale of the festival on November 30 which will feature an exclusive dinner with Kathiwada cuisine cooked in ceramic fire potsWhere Kathiwada City House WorliWhen October 18 to November 30Cost Exhibitions and lectures are free other events start from Rs 1600 onwardsTo book bookmyshowcom