Clay enthusiasts are up for a blast of form and colours this weekend at CERAFEST in South Mumbai
"The urge to see a form, incompletely planned, undrawn, but stepping forward, is the final stimulus." – Alison Britton One of the most historic craftsmanship skills shown by man has been in his use of clay. And yet, even today, it mesmerizes, lures and eludes him making us wonder who the potter is and who the pot. This weekend, CERAFEST, the exhibition at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Fort will bring together renowned potters like veteran Sandeep Manchekar, Shalan Dere, Anshu Dorairaj, Raja Mohanty, Ajay Abhyankar, Anjali Aney, Sumathi Madhav, Shayonti Salvi, Rashi Jain, Hanif Galwani, Vanmala Jain and many more.
Anshu Dorairaj, one of the 22 potters at CERAFEST gives us the bigger picture. She shares, "About four-five years ago, we had exhibited at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. However, since the last two years, things were not working out so we, potters, came together to create a market for ourselves." Given the lack of space in Mumbai, one can see why pottery has not gained much traction. Dorairaj explains, "If you want to buy stoneware (not to be confused with terracotta) in Mumbai, there are only three-four places in the city. We have many talented studio potters in Mumbai but not enough retail space, hence CERAFEST."
Space isn't the only constraint for potters in Mumbai. "There are very few dedicated galleries for pottery in this city, but more than that it's not easy. While a painting exhibition is justified as the value of each painting runs into lakhs, the same does not apply to pottery. We can charge only a limited amount," Dorairaj laments. When asked whether CERAFEST could keep costs low and prices reasonable, Dorairaj beams, "All 22 of us have chipped in from our own pocket to pay the rent for this space. Our prices are a steal when compared to prices at an international level!"
With more than 20 potters showcasing extraordinary work, the audience is in for a treat, assures Dorairaj. "Each artist has a unique style so there's much to be seen," she says, "For example, Sandeep Manchekar is renowned for his low-temperature firing, also known as lustre firing." Speaking about the live workshops at CERAFEST, Dorairaj explains, "We'll be having a wheel and a dedicated person to help you familiarize with clay and its methods and techniques."
With the platform offered at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Dorairaj and the others hope to turn CERAFEST into an annual or bi-annual event and hopefully invite international potters in future. So whether you're planning to make your own coffee mug, planter or pen stand, drop by to create a masterpiece of your own.
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