A pottery story: the work of Ira Chaudhuri

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A P O T T E R Y S T O R Y : T H E W O R K O F I R A C H A U D H U R I

a pottery story: the work of ira chaudhuri

Ira Chaudhuri is a studio potter with more than 70 years of continuous practice of ceramic art. She is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of ceramic art in India. This book is a commemoration of her work with images, essays & interviews by the artist, her contemporaries and critics. Published by Tulika Books, it also features an introduction by art connoisseur and major collector of Ira Chaudhuri’s work, Dr. Raj Kubba. The book is edited by Itu Chaudhuri and designed at ICD.

‘iramese’ spun on a wheel on the cover

Iramese is what Ira Chaudhuri likes to call her own sgraffito script, which draws inspiration from her interest in pre-columbian and oceanic art traditions. The letterforms form an increasingly shrinking circle, capturing the movement of a clay wheel.

an earthy palette resembling wet clay—the artist’s material and medium

The colour and mood of the book is closely reminiscent of clay in its wet, pliant form, which is Ira Chaudhuri’s material and medium.

ira chaudhuri and indian ceramic art in parallel movement

Ira Chaudhuri’s career traces its roots to Shantiniketan where the seeds of Indian ceramic art were laid. From there, her time in Baroda and in Delhi progressed in parallel with the development and maturation of the ceramic and studio pottery movement in India. Hence, the design treats the subject with sensitivity and rigour.

a catalogue of ira chaudhuri’s evolution as an artist

The works laid out in the book have a sequential sense—the groups cover distinct phases and transitions in her styles over 7 decades. Each work has been catalogued in detail in an index at the end.