I was born and raised in New Delhi, India where I spent the first two decades of my life. It always fascinated me to see potters throwing on the wheel, so one day I decided to give it a shot. I went to a roadside potter and told him I wanted to try my hands at clay. Amused by my desire, for it is not everyday people walk up to him, requesting to learn his craft, the potter delegated his nine-year-old son to indulge me. We sat by the busy street and the little boy centered a lump of clay on the wheel for me to play with. Needless to say, I couldn’t make anything that day but the joy of wet clay slipping through my fingers was so enthralling, it took me into a different realm. I knew I was hooked. A year later I moved to Atlanta, Georgia where I got the opportunity to learn pottery at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and spent five happy years playing in clay. After moving to Texas in 2003, I established my studio in Round Rock, my own little sanctuary, where I have been playing ever since… Artist Statement I like to explore form, to create pots with unique shapes and personalities, with the underlying guiding factor being, achievement of good functionality. I accentuate the contours of my wheel-thrown and altered pots through carving, making intricate, abstract patterns. The designs are not planned, but result from a spontaneous flow of the hand, guided by influences unconsciously absorbed over the years. The rich earthy hues strongly appeal to the artist in me, which in turn dictate the choice of my clay and glazes. Glazing is kept simple to highlight the details of the carving. It is my hope, that these carvings invite tactile exploration, acting as a labyrinth to trace the stresses of the day away.
