Reliving The Past
2023 | Glazed earthenware
An artist potter may draw inspiration from the traditional forms of the village potter, but the resulting piece must be judged on its own merit, for its function will be far removed from that of the craftsman wares. The essence of the matter is to appreciate and enjoy the qualities of form, decoration and technical excellence based on a fundamental understanding of the material. Has it been used sensitively, and with imagination? Do form, texture and colour balance and enhance one another?
One has to live with fine pots to appreciate their true character. The climax of a pot's beauty is not only its perfection in use. It must become part of one's life.
In Reliving The Past Mansimran Singh and Kishori Lal, carriers of rich legacies in themselves work together and build together, speaking a hybrid language in the common pursuit of beauty.
MANSIMRAN SINGH & KISHORI LAL
Mansimran was born in Lahore in 1939, son of Gurcharan Singh, the Father of Indian Studio Pottery. Mansimran undertook his training in England in 1960 under the tutelage of renowned studio potters Bernard Leach and Geoffery Whiting.
He has been a potter and teacher for the past 63 years, with numerous shows both internationally and in India, including the Berlin Art Festival, the Commonwealth Institution Gallery, London among others. Mansimran and his wife Mary set up the Andretta Pottery in Himachal in 1983. Mansimran has been instrumental in the establishment of various potteries in institutes and venues across the country like Garhi Studio Delhi, the Lalit Kala studio, Lucknow, Shantiniketan Ceramics Dept and at Cholamandal. The landscape of Indian pottery would not be the same without his invaluable contributions. Mansimran Singh lives and works at Andretta Studio, Himachal Pradesh.
