ART FOR KERALA: CERAMICS
Artist and sculptor Vipul Kumar brought two works all the way from Jaipur for the NGMA Art for 'Kerala floods sale'. A distinguished installation artist, who does ceramics with Buddhist elements in dictates of design has donated a brilliant work called Chorten Vessel.
"In this series, organic forms referencing Himalayan landscapes interact with the architectural "chorten" forms. Conceptually the work is about time and timelessness – the lines on the landscape forms allude to the layering of time, a reference to finite or chronological time. The chorten itself is a reliquary, but also a signifier of ancient wisdom – a finger pointing towards the timeless, self-perpetuating nature of existence," says Kacker.
The small pot of Jyotsna Bhatt from my collection goes back to nearly 20 years. I picked it up for Rs 300 from the Art Heritage summer sale which I would visit every year. As a gallery, Art Heritage stands on its own stead. It has always supported ceramics and recently had the historic exhibition of G.Reghu. Jyotsna Bhatt is a Gandhian, a mentor and a ceramic artist of great merit. This small pot with stripes is a quaint creation.
Another wonderful work has been donated by the brilliant Leena Batra an artist who used to work at Garhi many years ago. Leena has donated a beautiful vase for dry flower arrangements. A small cute plate with a pair of hands has been donated by artist/architect and mentor Manjari Sharma. Manjari excels at stoneware is known for her quixotic creations. This work belongs to her show at Lalit Kala Akademi. Textures and tones combine to give Manjari's work a certain edge in terms of creative zest. Manjari believes that doing anything with clay is about explorations and experiments.
While Jyotsna Bhatt is a precision and perfection ceramic artist, Vineet is an artist who weaves deep meditation and research elements into his work. Vineet's Chorten Vessel at once invites the contemplation of the human gaze. Vipul Kumar's porcelain work has a rough-hewn and indigenous signature but his generosity of spirit is what is charming. The beauty about this sale is that Adwaita Gadanayak NGMA Director General has breathed life and graciousness into the exercise and inspired so many artists to donate. It is his pragmatism too that has held the whole show in good stead.
The show at NGMA ends today. All proceeds go to Chief Minister's fund in Kerala.
