Maji gallery

Art reviewBy Alan

Keywords: MAJI art gallery, Maroma, Ceramic arts and Anagama kiln

A view of the Maji exhibition room

Auroville has a striking new art gallery – Maji. Located in the compound of Maroma, which is sponsoring the initiative, the first exhibition, ‘Petals’, opened in February 2025 and featured artists from the project’s first ceramics residency. The second show, ‘Touching the Sublime’, opened on 14 July, and featured artists from Auroville and Pondicherry. As the curator, Supriya Menon Meneghetti, put it, “the exhibition brings together diverse artistic voices rooted in sustainability, spiritual inquiry, and cultural harmony”.

Ceramic artwork by Indrani Singh Cassime

The exhibits included Paul Pinthon’s original candle sculptures, Kirti Chandak’s intimate self-portraits which portray elements of her personal development, as well as pottery by Indrani Singh Cassime. These pieces were fired in an Anagama kiln, a traditional Japanese wood-fired cave kiln, for around 72 hours, creating something which is strong and deeply textured. In addition, Ranjita Bora exhibited her high-fired stoneware, blending art and function through objects meant for daily use, while Priya Sundaravalli continued her explorations in organic forms in her delicate and instantly recognisable porcelain work.