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Finding their clay feet

Sudipta Datta

They spin dreams in clay. In earth colours, pastels, blues. In spirited shapes and sizes. And be it a vase, a jar, a lamp or an ear-stud, you can be sure of one thing -- it's one of a kind.

It's all the handiwork of Cynthia Suzan and Hamsavardhan, the pride of potters. Tucked away on Church Street in Bangalore, their gallery -- the Habitat Ceramic Shop -- is an artist's delight.

What's more, these art objects aren't too heavy on the pocket. A perfectly crafted lamp is priced at Rs. 500, a tie-down jar is Rs. 500; a letter-holder costs Rs. 75 (``It's a pity people don't write letters anymore, they only send e-mails, '' rues Hamsavardhan, when you appreciate the quaint piece); platters with fragile leaf impressions -- it's a Cynthia special -- cost anywhere between Rs. 150 and Rs. 250. Then there's a whole range of exquisite ear-studs, both glazed and ungla zed, and pendants priced between Rs. 50 and Rs. 200, which again are modelled by Cynthia; and some whacky kettles and jars that could liven up any room.

The duo are self-taught, and hence eclectic, creative and fiercely independent. ``No, we don't make anything to order. Our objects are not to be put on the factory line,'' explains Hamsavardhan. ``When I finish working on a jar, I make sure I don't go back to doing the same one again.'' Cynthia nods vigorously in agreement. ``We love to experiment. With colours, material, form,'' she says.

It all began in 1996 when both Hamsavardhan and Cynthia attended a Sunday terracotta course as a hobby. Hamsavardhan, already an associate architect with Edgar Demello Architects, says he was simply drawn towards the wheel. It spurred his imagin ation to such an extent that he soon gave up his job -- ``I wanted to be my own boss. I wanted to be free'' -- to read up on the art of pottery. Both Cynthia and Hamsavardhan were mesmerised by clay, and duly fell in love with each other. They a lso began scouting for a teacher. They could locate only one ceramics studio in Bangalore which belonged to Priya Power and Amrita Dhawan. After a stint at the studio, Hamsa and Cynthia decided to go it alone.

It was in 1998 that the duo set up their own studio, complete with a kiln, at a five-acre farmhouse in picturesque Harohalli on the outskirts of Bangalore. The farm, with its lush surroundings and beautiful lakes, forms the perfect backdrop f or their endeavour. ``We work from morning till about 1.30 p.m., eat lunch, and take a snooze till 4 p.m. before going back to the wheel. And no one disturbs us.'' Their shop happened in January this year, and both promise to showcase their varied ideas every month.

The kiln apart, what fires their imagination is glass. ``By the year-end, we will learn to blow glass,'' they promise in unison. ``Who knows, we may be able to mix ceramics and glass and try something different?''

Having learnt their craft the hard way, they want to give back something to the art they love and live by. They have already started pottery classes; and Hamsavardhan is also launching a Potters' Club. ``For an art form as old as pottery, we d on't have enough teachers or books or knowhow. I've had to go to the Internet to search for material,'' he says. And no, they don't intend to peddle their wares on the Net. ``People have to touch what we make. And feel the texture. See the c olour. How can we sell via medium?'' In the age of the Internet, if you are looking for aesthetic delights that aren't of the dotcom variety, look in at Habitat.