9 JULY 2022

TERRACOTTA SCULPTURE –  Workshop by VENKATESAN. K / TASMAI – A CENTRE FOR ART & CULTURE/ PONDICHERRY/

FRIDAY/ 10 June 2022 / 4.00 PM – 5.30 PM/

Venkatesan. K, the recipient of the prestigious National Merit Award in Terracotta conducts a Workshop at TASMAI, Pondicherry on 10 June 2022.

He will teach the students the basics of terracotta sculpture staring from a one inch miniature statue up to twenty feet or more.

Venkatesan belongs to the fifth generation of the traditional Terracotta artists family from Vilianur, Pondicherry.

 He is affiliated with the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and conducts Master Craftsmen training programs in Terracotta for the last thirty years and is an expert in traditional as well as contemporary Terracotta Sculpture.

Terracotta is one of the oldest surviving materials from ancient times.

The Indus Civilization remains from Arikamedu show us the time tested quality of this natural clay, when once fired it is porous but becomes permanent for posterity.

Terracotta meaning ‘baked earth’ is made from river clay and when fired it turns red, blue and black depending on the temperature.

Generally it is burnt in a pit covered with wood, cow dung cake and grass at 800 degree Celsius.

It’s one of the most eco-friendly mediums one can think of.

Images credit/ Tasmai