How a clay studio transformed my life: A tribute to Triveni Kala Sangam and my teachers

Having left my full-time job, I was looking for things to do where I could go and meet people. I had known about Triveni since my teenage years ?thanks to its cafeteria known for fresh home-made food.

One fine morning I was looking wistfully at the posters for classes on the reception desk, ?when a stranger seeing me look started talking to me . He was Onkar Rahi ex IPS , collector, book writer, ?painter etc in his many avatars. I told him I loved pottery but couldn’t do it due to my weak back muscles. We talked for an hour, and he suggested I try sculpture. Sculpture, my mind thought “OK” maybe I can make an angel with it. Sometimes a stranger can change one’s life and he did mine for sure.

I joined the class, ?on day one I met Aradhana who welcomed me with a smiling face, an old student and told me how to prepare clay. Clay has been a medium I loved most as an art therapist for its ability to Mold, change , break and reemerge. It had a profound effect on healing my grief when my mom passed away.

Later that day kosal sir came. He said make something and when I did, he said Ok just wanted to see what you can do with clay. I came back the next day with a photo of an owl and started. My back issues prevented me from standing or even sitting for long hours. I borrowed sir’s teacher chair which he generously shared with me ?through the entire first year. I used to be exhausted and tired but over the years?I made the owl, a rabbit, a jalpari and hanumanji. ?

As I made them something in me changed. Sculpture became a passion, a hobby beyond what I ever thought it would be or could be. Slowly I was able to stand and work and my duration changed from half an hour to two hours, a milestone for a person who battled so many fears on her spinal health.

As I healed the clay healed me . Slowly I understood what a good teacher can do for you. Kosal sir’s very presence changes the space. He has a quiet but ?jolly demeanour of the old world master, a rare person who is happy creating because he can, the joy intrinsic. Having learnt from a traditional ?maestro he carries on that tradition of a guru. He never interferes with us when we are making anything, allowing us to make mistakes ?and experiment. We call him in utter angst often “ Sir ghode ki aankh nahi thik hai’, “Sir lip nahi ban rahe ”. He comes ?and his hands move like a musician on the sitar, he knows which notes the clay will want to hear and moulds it in a space of seconds .? His face in full attention, body in full obeisance to the clay. It’s almost magical seeing his hands move.

The class itself is light brimming with a positive energy, the dialogues on clay endless. For most of us a ball of ready clay is like gold. We hide it like it's our most precious treasure ?and instead of jokes on gold, we have clay ones.? Each day ?I see sculptures emerge from many hands. Hands of an artist, hands of a college student, hands of an old woman, hands of a media person, hands of an ex-IAS,? hands carrying varying emotions from , grief, sadness to joy and? what? emerges is art, “Yes”, ?but at an inner level an expression of one’s soul. I see potters under the highly talented Kavya Ma’am ?create stuff from a dog to a food ?platter. The sighs and moans when something breaks in the kiln and something beautiful comes intact after glazing is fascinating to watch.

Clay, I have learnt, can never be told what to do. Sometimes I can start with an idea and something totally different emerges . Clay has made me more open to experiment with form . I was shy about doing women's bodies with a focus?on? breasts as I thought of them as provocative but Kosal Sir. said “If it’s in your heart to do it then you must” . Don’t think of society or people just do it .I am excited to learn what glazing can do to my sculptures. What I think in my head and what will emerge from the kiln will a curious experiment

The studio today has become my happy place. A space of life creating life each day.? While some of us are anxious to get recognition as artists and monetize, others do it for the sake of fun and gifting. Each one on their own journey of clay. Where it will take me in the future, I don’t know but for me Triveni clay and ceramic studio is a temple of ?joy and my safe place.?

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