Ceramic artist Vinod on his newest collection of works ‘Aikyam: Oneness’

Hyderabad: Ceramic artist Vinod Daroz has been fascinated by temple architecture for the past 15 years, but he didn’t think that the influence would go on to reflect in all his subsequent works. His newest collection, ‘Aikyam: Oneness’ is also inspired by temple architecture and features some 37 pieces. “Conceptualisation has been going on for […]

Hyderabad: Ceramic artist Vinod Daroz has been fascinated by temple architecture for the past 15 years, but he didn’t think that the influence would go on to reflect in all his subsequent works. His newest collection, ‘Aikyam: Oneness’ is also inspired by temple architecture and features some 37 pieces. “Conceptualisation has been going on for 15 years. Every time the execution is different, but the concept is same. I started with Gopuram, and then worked my way through different parts of the temple architecture. I started after I visited Kancheepuram with my family, then Srisailam and Hampi,” says Vinod.

The new collection is a product of the artist’s three-year-long work and marries clay with different elements like red thread, gold, copper, platinum and silver. He employs motifs like the egg, butterfly, pupa, flowers, shells, and the linga and yoni as the basis of his creations. It won’t be far-fetched to say that there is a common link between all his showcases. The pestle and mortar, a motif seen in this series of installations symbolises the harmony between Shiva and Shakti.

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When one looks at his work, one gets to see the stark contrasts. It’s most visible in his installations that look like cushions which bring some softness to the cold and hard surface of the ceramic medium. The introduction of red thread in a few works makes one think about rituals of prayer and devotion, protection and blessings.

“When I began working with ceramics, shaping clay into platters and bowls was like meditation for me. So, they are almost always central to my work,” says the artist who was born into a family from Hyderabad. The last time he had visited the city was three years ago and he had hoped to start a studio here, but the pandemic played spoilsport. So, he now wants to set up a studio in Baroda where he is based currently. The raw material for his clay bodies is sourced from AP, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala and Rajasthan. “I make my own clay. Sometimes, I get clay from China and the UK. Most raw materials I get from Gujarat. I use oxides for colours,” says Vinod.

“Baroda is a peaceful city. Here if I need to find something, it’s going to take me most of the day. There is too much traffic and distance. I prefer quiet around me when I am working,” shares Vinod. The decision to continue working there is also due to the response of people to ceramic works here.

“Speaking generally, ceramics as an art form doesn’t have much potential in India even now. Everybody knows about pottery and there is no value for it. But now, people are looking for something unique and different, and they find ceramics offer that. So, a lot of artists are experimenting with it,” adds the artist who did his post-graduation in sculpture from the Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda and then trained in ceramics with Ray Meeker and Deborah Smith at Golden Bridge Pottery, Puducherry.

He is now busy working on collections for private houses. As for ‘Aikyam: Oneness’, the showcase at Kalakriti Art Gallery can be viewed till March 27.

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