New exhibition shows how pottery has evolved since 1947

The exhibition titled Mutable at Piramal Museum of Art, will display works from traditional or hereditary potters as well as studio artists

Mutable: Ceramic and Clay Art in India since 1947

When: October 13, 2017 to January 15, 2018

Where: Piramal Museum of Art, Lower Parel

Contact: 3046 6981 or email artfoundation@piramal.com

When one thinks of art, the mind immediately conjures up an image of a grand painting. Yet, since ancient times, creative crafts were not merely art for art’s sake, but also functional. Like pottery.

Mutable, a ceramic and clay art exhibition at Piramal Museum of Art aims to honour both the aesthetic and practical pleasures of pottery. It will showcase ceramic traditions since 1947, as practised by diverse artists all over India.

On display are works from traditional or hereditary potters as well as studio artists experimenting with eclectic designs. Apart from conventional exhibits, the show will feature a wide variety of artists who engage with clay differently to create atypical patterns. Viewers can expect to see sculptures, experimental terracotta art, ceramic models and multifarious kinds of clay art.

Decorative terracotta art will be exhibited at Mutable.

“We have arranged the entire exhibition democratically,” says Ashvin Rajagopalan, director of the Piramal Art Foundation. “We don’t want to impose any hierarchy between the artists or suggest that one work is better than the other. In fact, we are working to establish the place of ceramic art as equally worthy of attention as any other visual form of expression.”

So, works of traditional practitioners and contemporary studio artists get equal display. Participating craftsmen include Giri Raj and Bhuvnesh Prasad, the B R Pandit family, Adul Ibrahim and Khumbar Ramzan Ali, K. G. Subramanyan, Laxma Goud, Himmat Shah, N N Rimzon and Mrinalini Mukherjee.

Ceramic art is not limited to pottery alone, but also includes clay models.

The show will also have “touch” points, allowing the audience to interact with the models on display. “We want our attendees to engage with the exhibits,” says Rajagopalan.

Over the course of three months, attendees can also partake in workshops, panel discussions, artist talks and artist and collector-led walkthroughs. There will also be games that allow participants to play with clay, or indulge in some destressing pottery.