Talk to local potter of Jetpur ( Gujarat )

About Lockdown Time: Conversation with local craftsman 

It has been a challenging time throughout, especially during the start of the lockdown about which I would like to share some of my experiences.

I reached home after two months. There was complete unavailability of any studio equipment so I could not work with clay. Therefore I decided to visit the local craftsman who worked with clay from generations. I happened to be visiting the local potters and their families.

I observed their lifestyle and how they engaged with clay. I could see a very deep understanding of the medium in a ritualistic and spiritual way. One of the senior members of the family Mr. Rameshbhai told me, “when we make the first form on the wheel that was Shiv-linga (the form that is created when you get your clay in the center of the wheel ), and then we start molding into the form we want like lamps, pots, etc. if you can make that form like Shiv-linga then you can convert it into anything, so that is the pure form and that’s why we worship that pure form.”

I could see every part of the process related to some spiritual things according to him, which gave me a new vision for this medium. 

Women also helped the men in the production. Women handle the process of clay making to the preparation of clay lumps for throwing. I observe she also sing the traditional song while working. I ask them what is the importance of singing. She replied, “When singing a song for mother earth because we use it for our living purpose, so this song is about her generosity”.

In these days they used machine for making “Tavdi”. The machine is also called Jigger-jolly. 2 people in Jetpur have this machine and making the tavdies and other people of the community make patterns on it.

 I ask them what are you making in this tavdi?

He tells me, “without this pattern this tavdi is incomplete, because previously in their tradition, they make the image of nature like trees, water waves and mountain in the tavdi and that specific tavdi used for ritualistic practice. That tradition of making drawing continued from centuries but now we can’t make the natural elements we just only make some random drawings so this is only for fulfilling that tradition of drawing.”

Actually, he made that pattern by burnishing clay. Used smooth stone for burnishing effects, and after firing that effects give the shine. So at night, you can easily identify the object. That’s the basic scientific reason for that making patterns. But from the centuries the people related this process to ritualistic practice.

When I saw him loading his objects in the traditional kiln with so much discipline and utmost respect to the clay. Full loaded stuff of kiln created visual harmony and rhythm, it looked very simple yet attractive.

I realised, that people also have a strong understanding of design elements. But in a theatrical way, they can’t express it but their practice express the understanding of design elements.

Then he talked about his home, he used the damage terracotta stuff for creating walls & flooring. Now I could feel the importance of the medium and how it related to human society. Somehow it may have given the inspiration and curiosity about the ceramic medium.

Some time for their own house structure they made special clay bodies for brick, and that design of brick based on the geographical location and weather. I see two types of bricks, one brick design specially for the kitchen, and another design for the bathroom. Bathroom bricks have more porosity and that’s why it's not vitrified. For the kitchen, they designed vitrified bricks which fired on the high temperature around 900⁰C-1000⁰C degree. 

I came to Baroda and started research on the history of ceramic. When did human life engage with clay? How the clay objects have been the part of civilization, what do they try to interpret, and what they mean to the art world. So I started to research about ceramic parallelly for doing my work.

It is a very inspiring visit to local craftsman and it give me more passion for the ceramic medium, this is not only art medium this is related to human society with very strong relationship. Till now I understand this medium only as an art medium butt now this experience opens my vision and understand the value of this medium.