Art and utility, happily married

Studio pottery, artistic and useful, is perhaps the perfect answer to the perpetual art versus craft debate. The stunning array of cups, mugs, glasses, bowls, platters, planters, tea pots, tea sets and vases handmade by artists playing artisans exhibited at 1.Shanthiroad Studio/Gallery makes the debate an old chestnut.

The second of the Showcase series conceptualised by Aliyeh Rizvi and Raghu Tenkalaya, this exhibition called ‘Monsoon Muse’ has works of well known pottery studios and ceramists from Auroville and Pondicherry, including Ashwini Bhat, Michael Kai, Michael Hutin (Flame Pottery), Puneet Brar (Windglaze Pottery), Raakhe Kane (Avartan Pottery) and Mandala Pottery (Adil Writer, Chinmayi, Anamika and Krishnamoorthy). These artists studied pottery from Deborah Smith and Ray Meeker of Golden Bridge Pottery, who were instrumental in turning Pondicherry into a haven for potters and ceramic artists.

What is studio pottery? Unlike mass produced pottery, studio pottery is done by artists working alone or in small groups. The artist-cum-craftsman directly works with clay in a studio through all stages of manufacturing. So, handmade studio pottery is unique.

This exhibition is curated by Adil Writer. He is a ceramic artist, painter and architect from Bombay, currently living and working in Auroville with Mandala Pottery, which produces functional tableware, assorted ceramic items, and architectural ceramic murals and installations.