Inner Space Outer Space – Rendezvous with Vijayanager

Toranagallu is a remote village in Karnataka, near the ruins of Hampi, the capital of the once mighty Vijayanagara empire. Located in the heart of a high-grade iron ore belt, Toranagallu is home to the Jindal Steel Works, one of the factories of the JSW conglomerate, India’s second largest steel company. Around the factory, Jindal Steel has created three spotlessly clean and well provisioned townships to house its employees and their families, complete with schools, relaxation facilities, sports grounds and, in the largest township, Kaladham, a beautiful museum. The latter became the focal point of an exhibition of the works of eleven Auroville artists who, at the invitation of the JSW Foundation, the social development division of the JSW Group, had come to create, teach and interact with local artisans and the community for a period of two weeks.

The initiative for the art camp and training project had come from Mrs. Sangita Jindal, the Chairperson of the JSW Foundation. Concerned about the plight of local artisans, and potters in particular, she was looking for ways to help them find new forms of expression. Mrs. Jindal proposed a ceramic art camp, a two-week long art workshop involving artists from Auroville who would not only create art and interact with local artisans but also give training in clay to the JSW employees and their families. “We thought of an art camp focused on the ceramic medium because the process gives an experience of touch, feel, squeeze, smell which is an engaged activity involving amateurs and professional artists,” wrote the JSW Foundation.

Her invitation was taken up by eleven artists and one artist’s assistant, ten from Auroville and two from the surrounding area. All had extensive experience in the medium of clay and ceramics. Five nationalities were represented.

“We were overwhelmed by the warm reception,” says Priya Sundaravalli, the coordinator of the programme. “It was hospitality and generosity unlimited. We never heard the word ‘no’ to any of our requests. The staff was extremely caring, the attention to detail for our comfort was unimaginable, the materials procurement was immediate – it was beyond expectations every step of the way.”

The biggest surprise was the industrial scrap yard. After a tour of the immense steel plant and an introduction to the various aspects of JSW Steel Works, the artists were invited to visit the company’s vast scrap yards to see if there was any waste material they could use in their art work. “There we went totally crazy and didn’t want to leave!” says Priya. “It was supposed to be a metal graveyard of sorts, but these objects offered and suggested so many creative possibilities. We all went into creative overdrive.” Priya herself selected a 3-metre diameter standing metal disc to be covered with tesserae (small ceramics tiles), Chantal chose a damaged rowing boat, and others smaller scrap pieces.

The artists set to work in the several studio spaces made available to them, except for Nele who had chosen to decorate the facade of a building at the sports centre. Besides creating their own works, they also shared their knowledge and skills through hands-on activities with clay. Participants included art teachers from the JSW schools, children, spouses as well as employees. The sessions were very popular. The primary instructor was 17-year old Masha, a student of Last School and a pottery instructor at the White Peacock Studio in Auroville, who had accompanied the team both as an artist-assistant and to teach.

The international nature of the artists’ team along with the wide age range of the artists led to interesting and positive cultural exchanges and also broke down age-related misconceptions – that people over 70 cannot work, and that a high school student cannot teach adults. The studio where most of the artists were working became a central hub, open in the late evenings and occasionally up to midnight, welcoming drop-in visitors, especially employees at end of the day or after sports activities. The art teachers from the various JSW Schools benefited as well. They were present during the entirety of the workshop, learning both by observation as well as by direct instruction.

However, the engagement with local craftspeople did not work as expected. Only one potter attended as the timing of the art camp just prior to the Hindu and Muslim festival season made it impossible for others to participate, as they were busy fulfilling orders.

At the end of two weeks, the artists’ and students’ works were together exhibited at the Kaladham Museum amidst great fanfare and interest from the JSW employees and their families. Over the coming weeks, special trips for school children were organized, with as highlight over 1,700 children visiting the museum one day.

Overall, the project was a huge success, says Priya, even though a two-week period is too short for a ceramic camp. “Working with clay, a minimum of 3 weeks is needed, and ideally a month. Clay needs to dry slowly, otherwise the surface cracks. Then there is the firing cycle. Objects made of clay need to be fired twice, and three times if gold or enamels are used. Each firing is an 8-10 hour process and requires a long cooling time. Some works broke as the kiln was not able to reach the required temperature. We had to improvise and come up with Plan B. But we all succeeded in exhibiting the works in time. The opening night at Kaladham was magical. The presence of Auroville was in the air.”

The works created are now the property of the JSW Foundation, which will find a permanent location for each of them in their offices across India. But, says Priya, this will not be the end. “The JSW Foundation has expressed interest to continue its engagement with Auroville artists.” Among the ideas mooted is that a programme will be developed in which Auroville ceramicists will help the local potters improve the designs and quality of their work; that the Kaladham Museum shop sells the works of both local and Auroville ceramic artists; and that Auroville ceramic artists help train JSW School teachers to set up a permanently functioning clay studio, along the lines of the White Peacock studio in Auroville, for use by employees and their families.