Saturday Art: Manifestations in Clay

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 This week's edition of Saturday Art is about my own involvement in the world of art, more specifically about the revival of a dying art. The following write-up was published a few years back in a local news magazine, 'Voice of Malabar Hills' that traces the history of the art of clay model making to the present day with the efforts involved in reviving it.

" India has a rich and ancient heritage of clay figurines. The fired clay figurines discovered from excavations at Indus Valley are a standing testimony of India’s ancient terracotta art and the craft of clay model making.

In relatively recent history, the art received royal patronage. Maharaja Krishnachandra (1710-1783) was a patron of arts, and supported the production of clay figurines. In 1728 he invited families of expert artisans from other regions and settled them in what is today’s Nadia district in West Bengal. By end of 19th century, their work became hugely popular for their exquisite craftsmanship and won them international acclaim.

Recently however there has been gradual diminishing demand due to cheaper non-breakable material like fiber being available, which has driven the craftsmen to poverty and unwillingness. Younger generations have moved to other trades leaving their hereditary art. As recent as 2007, the number of master craftsmen dwindled to less than 10, most of them aged. 

Our family was fortunate to own a large collection of such figurines dating back almost 100 years, as a legacy from our grandfather. He had got them specially made by artisans from the same region, to create themes around them as part of the Ganapati decorations during the festival. We noticed however that these figurines were giving way, either chipping off or discoloring. Thus started the journey to find the roots of this art and re-create the clay figurines - to be ready for the 100th year of Ganapati celebrations at our home.

After research and several visits we managed to locate the same artisan community. This is when we noticed the sorry state of the art and its craftsmen. We endeavored to revive and support the art, to make it contemporary and relevant to current times and decided to present the figures in a theme or story, similar to our Ganapati decoration themes. Thus took birth the unique idea of creating clay figurine themed sets, which is the first in the history of this art.  The inaugural theme is a set of 22 clay figurines featuring Lord Jagannath and Krishna bhakti of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

While reviving the art, the key elements such as hand crafting, hand painting and some traditional techniques of clay model making, firing are still retained in their original form to enhance their uniqueness and artistic value. 

Since the set was conceived as a devotional offering inspired from our Ganapati decorations, it is ensured that new creation essentially has a devotional foundation, with purity and devotion as the key elements. Every aspect is guided by these values.  As in the process of creation in Nature, the same Panchamahabhuta elements have been used in their most elemental form. The figurines thus emerge in the purest and most natural form that could ever be. 

The flow of universal creative energies is sought, allowing its perfection to be expressed in the set’s creation. The clay, so to speak, takes shape, form, colour through Divine will. Any intervention is only inspired. It is not surprising that each figurine bears a Divine form, immaculate in its perfection, ethereal in its beauty, evoking a sense of devotion in the ‘Manifestations in Clay’. "

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