The Hindu : Kerala News : A blend of artistry and artisanship

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

A blend of artistry and artisanship

Artistic expression: K. Sundaran’s mural in terracotta is popular even outside Kerala.

Making murals in terracotta is not a simple affair. It requires the dexterity of an artisan as well as the imagination of an artist.

Kolamannil Sundaran belonging to Vellaramkunnu, Chungathara, in Malappuram district is an artisan gifted with the genius of an artist.

The murals he makes in terracotta have already begun to captivate people from different parts of the country.

Sundaran stands apart from other terracotta artisans by choosing mythological, religious and historical characters as his subjects.

The murals of dancing Ganapathy, John Paul II and Jesus Christ are some of the works that earned him popularity.

Despite having the patronage of Helping Hands, a non-governmental organisation working for the welfare of the potter community in Nilambur, Sundaran says it is tough to pull on life as an artisan.

But he does not concentrate only on terracotta murals. He continues to try his hand at various aspects of pottery, including household utensils, decorative pieces, traditional lamps, candle stands, mirror frames, telephone stands and aquarium accessories.

Clay is his raw material. Give him some clay and a few minutes; he will convert the clay into any form or design one asks him to. His artistic skills have been recognised from childhood days.

Learning the basics

After learning the basics of pottery from his father, Sundaran went on to exhibit extraordinary skills in clay modelling. He won many prizes in clay modelling at school. He represented Mar Thoma College, Chungathara, at university-level competitions.

He perfected his skills in pottery from the training he got from the Dakshina Chitra Craft Foundation in Chennai. The expertise he acquired from Chennai helped him recreate several acclaimed murals in terracotta.

Carvings done earlier on granite slabs are now often done on terracotta. He says he can produce murals of any size according to customer requirements. His murals have reached various parts of the globe, including America.

According to Sundaran, the unavailability of clay used in pottery is the biggest worry for the potter community. “The price of clay too has gone up,” he says.

He currently pays more than Rs.10,000 for a truckload of clay. “That too is not available.” The clay in Malappuram district is considered not ideal for pottery. The clay from places in Kozhikode district like Cheruvadi, Mavoor and Thottumukkam has more demand.

Sundaran says the young generation does not get attracted to pottery and related fields.

Abdul Latheef Naha

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