“माटी कहेक कुम्हार से” (The Dialogue), featuring the remarkable works of ceramic artist Sandeep Manchekar. The exhibition opens with a preview on January 9, 2025, and will be on view from January 10 to February 4, 2025, at the Nine Fish Art Gallery, Mumbai. This exhibition is presented in association with the Dot Line Space Art Foundation.

“माटी कहेक कुम्हार से” is a profound exploration of clay as a medium for self-expression, cultural reflection, and artistic innovation. Curated with sensitivity and insight, the exhibition unfolds across six distinct sections that highlight Manchekar’s complex engagement with both tradition and modernity. Each section serves as a window into his unique world of ceramics, where the elemental nature of clay becomes a powerful vehicle for exploring identity, culture, and societal themes.

Highlights of the exhibition include Identity in Clay. The section Identity in Clay reflects on the artist’s personal journey and self-perception, explored through sculptural works that evoke deep introspection and emotional complexity. Each piece becomes a vessel of emotional resonance, showcasing how clay, as a medium, can capture the nuances of human identity – fluid, multifaceted, and ever – evolving. Through the tactile nature of the material, the artist presents a dialogue between the external world and the internal self, where each form and texture carries an imprint of the artist’s personal narrative.

Clay is Culture

The Cultural Echoes series delves into the intersection of heritage, memory, and transformation, expressed through clay – moulded abstract canvases. The works in this collection serve as a bridge between past and present, evoking a rich tapestry of cultural memory. Through the organic curves and layered surfaces of the ceramic pieces, Manchekar explores how culture is not only remembered but continually reshaped, just like the clay itself. These works provoke reflection on the ever evolving nature of cultural expression, where history is both preserved and reinterpreted, and how the tangible materiality of clay serves as a vessel for intangible traditions and memories.

Aesthetics of Resilience

In Origins of Form, Sandeep Manchekar delves into the transformative process of Raku. The delicate balance of heat, air, fire, and Raku clay in this ancient technique results in unique, often imperfect, but beautiful pieces. Each raku-fired work embodies the inherent tension between creation and destruction, capturing a moment of transformation. And thus within the moments of imperfection lie the aesthetics of life itself with all its imperfections, its unresolved desires, and the inevitable passage of time. Sandeep’s mastery of this unpredictable process speaks to the delicate interplay between nature and the artist, where each piece emerges as a record of the forces at work.

Temporal Resonance

Temporal Resonance reflects on the duality of time – its impermanence and its enduring essence – through the creation of Ash Pit-fired pots. Shaped by the volatile forces of wood fire, these ceramic pieces embody the cycle of birth, decay, and renewal. The imperfection of the process – evidenced by charred marks, cracks, and subtle shifts in colour – captures the essence of life’s transience. Through his use of the wood-firing technique, Sandeep embraces the truant nature of the flame, allowing it to leave traces of time’s passage. Each piece becomes a tactile record of mutation, a reflection on the cyclical nature of life, where every imperfection documents a story.

The Abstract ( Luster)

In the abstract series, Sandeep Manchekar explores the untapped potential of clay through the use of luster glaze, fusing metallic elements into the surface of fired clay. This innovative approach creates a mesmerizing interplay of light, reflection, and texture. The plates in this collection transcend the conventional, offering a glimpse into a futuristic aesthetic where clay becomes a medium for reimagining both materiality and form. The gleaming surfaces and dynamic textures invite the viewer to contemplate the relationship between light, time, and artistic evolution.

हम कुम्हार: A Monumental Installation In his monumental installation हम कुम्हार, Sandeep brings together a profound narrative of heritage, craftsmanship, and societal reflection. The installation features ten life-size pots, each symbolizing a different community of potters and reflecting the diverse types of soil from which they have emerged. These pots are placed on a traditional bullock cart, an evocative symbol of the ancient history of civilization, where pottery was not just a craft but a vital cultural anchor. The pots are not mere objects; they are metaphors for the deep, intricate connections between people and the land they inhabit.

As the installation unfolds, it also addresses the contemporary relevance of the caste system in India. The varied forms, textures, and colours of the pots subtly allude to societal divisions. At the same time, their placement together on the same bullock cart serves as a poignant reminder of our shared humanity. In a world still grappling with social hierarchies, Sandeep’s installation challenges the viewer to reflect on collective belonging and question how history continues to shape identities in the present. Through this installation, Sandeep invites us into a conversation on heritage, identity, and social reflection, urging us to rethink the connections between craft, culture, and societal divisions. The work challenges us to reflect on the complexities of the caste system while also celebrating the unity and strength found in shared cultural practices.

Join us at Nine Fish Art Gallery for this transformative artistic experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with Sandeep Manchekar’s remarkable artistry!

Exhibition Preview: 9th January 2025

Exhibition on View: 10th January – 4th February 2025

Venue: Nine Fish Art Gallery

Address: The New Great Eastern Mills, 25-29, Dr Baba Saheb

Ambedkar Rd, Near Rani Baug, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400027