Making A Play For Clay

Ceramic sculptor Shayonti Salvi gave up a career in interior design to pursue the lure of clay and discovered the freedom of creating exactly what she wants!

What does being a ceramist mean to you?

SS: In many ways it is a testament to my love of art and nature. What amazes me about ceramics is its use of all the five elements of nature; it is a truly complete medium of expression! I have always been attracted to the earth, and after being exposed to various media during my art studies, I found that clay resonated with me the most.

What role has formal education played in your career?

SS: I wanted to be an artist when I started out my higher education after school; however, my father convinced me to work in a commercially viable vertical of art, which is when I started exploring interior design. I find that formal education is just a stepping stone to transitioning into any professional practice in our country. I must confess that while I have done all my study in India itself, I have felt the lack of relevance in most of it, except for ceramics. I found that very little of what I studied in my interiors course actually held me in good stead in the real world. One actually got better at the job by seriously engaging in it and delivering. So, while it is important to initiate yourself into any practice through formal study, I feel that actually working at something is more important. We give too much importance to the paper in our society. More importance should be given to the experience. I always credit my organizational capabilities to my seven years of work experience with two architectural firms - NPAPL and Sanjay Puri Architects. I had a wonderful experience working in both firms. The style of working was poles apart, allowing me to grasp and learn different aspects of architectural design at both. Nothing teaches you better than being on the job. At 26, I was an associate, handling my own projects and team.

When did you feel the lure of ceramics?