Poetry on Pottery by Shilpy @ Ceramic Trail!
By: Team Ifairer | Posted: 08-03-2017
Heart It
For her latest collection she has drawn inspiration from Rumi's poetry and Lord Buddha's teachings. Creating these art pieces is a laboriousprocess that is nothing less than the poetry itself.
The story starts on the potters' wheel where she creates the medium first – a platter, round, oval or square. The piece is then left to air dry for a few days. The brush-work comes next where each stroke is made with precision, there's no room for mistakes because the heat inside the kiln will bring out every smudge and every blemish later. Sometimesthere's also carving involved. The colors appear dull and washed at this stage and it's only the artist herself who can visualize what the final artwork will look like. The first round of firing in the kiln is the litmus test for everything done so far. Pieces can crack or chip off as the temperatures soar to as high as 1200 degrees and if the electricity plays tricks during the 12 hours of firing, the chances of breakage are even higher. Post a cool down time of 6 to 8 hours, the artist does ‘Glazing' on the pieces, which is another technique that involves great vision and creativity. The second round of firing follows and as the artist says, the kiln has a mind of its own. The final colors can sometimes be more mesmerizing than originally imagined by her.
Her impressions of ‘poetry on pottery' are not only artistic but meaningful as well. Behind each of her artworks there's a couplet or some other inspiration. Her impressions of Rumi's poetry are most popular amongst art lovers who have bought from her brand Ceramic Trail. She restricts the number to only three platters per design and she also does work commissioned by clients who are looking for something different. All these platters can be hung on walls and come with the framed couplet that serves as inspiration. Shilpy Gupta works out of her studio in South Bangalore.
Shilpy's first solo exhibition will be held on the 1stand 2ndApril in Bangalore at the Shanthiroad Gallery.