Loading...
CLAY | கலைமண்

Start Date : 12 December 2024

End Date : 28 February 2025



Go back in time, and you might recall a memory of touching the earth's surface, running your fingers through the brown soil beneath your feet.  Trying to understand its texture— sometimes soft and moist, yet at other times hard as a rock, we unconsciously become intertwined with nature and the universe around us. Clay or “Mannu” in Tamil, is truest to nature, holding a deep connection to human existence. The belief—that humans come from soil and return to it, has provided all living beings with a multitude of connections with clay.

Pottery, made by shaping clay and firing it at high temperatures, holds the longest artistic tradition in India, surpassing any other art form in terms of antiquity. From objects crafted by early civilizations for ancient spiritual practices to the modern ceramics found in studios today, pottery has continuously transformed clay, a natural medium, into a powerful form of artistic expression.

Since the dawn of civilization, art and craft have been integral to human life. Across both ancient and  in the postmodern world, we continue searching for ‘artifacts'— that tells  stories. In this exhibition, we aim to revive and revisit the forgotten history of Madras.

Ceramics, which extend beyond traditional pottery, are crafted by shaping and firing inorganic, non-metallic materials—such as clay—at high temperatures. They are often glazed, which involves applying melted glass, to create smooth, colored surfaces and to reduce porosity. While pottery has been practiced in India for thousands of years and is native to the region, refined ceramics were introduced through external influences, primarily via trade routes. Although raw materials for ceramics were available locally, it was the Chinese who perfected the craft and dominated ceramic production for centuries, mastering techniques that they exported globally.

In this exhibition, we will take you to the historic evolution of ceramics produced in south India, particularly the Madras region. We’ll explore key questions: Who were the pioneers who brought this medium to South India? When did local ceramics production begin? And most intriguingly, can ceramics, a form of pottery—often regarded as a craft be interwoven into an artform?

Let's stay connected!

Join our mailing list for updates

×
register
×
Request Info