Ceramics is a mediums that has regularly been showcased at Art Heritage from early on in its inception in 1977 – including exhibitions by some of the pioneers and well-established names in the field: K G Subramanyan (terracotta works), Himmat Shah, P R Daroz, Jyotsna Bhatt, Devi Prasad and Ira Chaudhuri to name a few. Further, as an institution that serves to promote young and emerging talent, in addition to regularly placing works by younger artists in group shows, our annual emerging artist On the Threshold of Time show (2016-17) was almost exclusively devoted to ceramics.

The Firing Line, curated by Kristine Michael, is the first exhibition at the gallery after the COVID-19 pandemic, exclusively focused on ceramics, reaffirming the gallery’s commitment to the medium. The exhibition showcases seven contemporary artists from India – Aarti Vir, Devesh Upadhyay, Khanjan Dalal, Panthini Thaker, Sandeep Manchekar, Ray Meeker and Ruby Jhunjhunwala – whose use of the medium as a major vehicle of expression demonstrates the pluralistic approaches to the contemporary ceramic discourse. They span multiple generations, often connected to one another’s past histories. The works take on multiple expressions – not just related to the shape, colour or finish, but also how they are meant to be displayed – many of the works are framed and envisioned to be hung on the wall, like paintings, rather than being displayed as sculptures on pedestals or directly on the floor. The works foreground the establishing of new parameters and an agenda for a fresh vision of practice that strives for a modern idiom asserting itself independently from clay’s historical connection with the vessel – so that the material is dynamised and brought into the realm of a new language!

Date

22 Nov - 14 Jan 2023

Artists

Aarti Vir, Khanjan Dalal, Ray Meeker, Panthini Thaker, Ruby Jhunjhunwala, Devesh Upadhyay, Sandeep Manchekar

Medium

Ceramics