Ceramic artist Shweta Mansingka’s creative journey involves tapping into her inner consciousness
When did your fascination for clay begin?
SM: I love how an author/artist/philosopher’s thoughts can be the catalyst to provoke another person to reflect, delve or rediscover facets of life they may otherwise have overlooked. Growing up I admired the works of Rodin and Brancusi, expressing timelessly through their sculptures, reaching across decades and resonating with generations of viewers. Chancing upon the thought-provoking works of Joseph Bofill filled me with wonder, impacting my life and world.
It was a blessing that clay found me in 1989. I started training with Shri Ram Kumar Manna in Calcutta. My sculptures bordered on the abstract, leaving much unsaid, trying to express intangible thoughts or intensely felt emotions through the silent voice of clay.
I used to go for many classical music/dance performances and what fascinated me deeply was the rapture in the expressions of the performing artists when they lost themselves to their art - almost going beyond themselves to connect to a higher creative energy. This resulted in a series of terracotta sculptures including ‘Silent melody’ and ‘We dance... to a whispered voice’ for my first solo show at the Birla Academy of Fine Arts in 1995.
What is the significance of a mentor in an artist’s career?
SM: The teachers who came into my world have enriched my path way beyond their fields of expertise. Words are not enough to express the gratitude I feel towards them. I was fortunate to train personally under Shri Ram Manna for five years. He is the epitome of humility, ginormous in his skills and pure intention to impart knowledge openly without needing to withhold any of his techniques or skills. I am forever indebted to him for his teachings which are the foundations of my ceramic journey.
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A Legacy Continues
Leveraging the success of his family's export business, Naman Jain is focusing on creating a retail presence in India
Creating KAIRA
Long fascinated by Indian fabric, Nikita Gupta has launched an attractive line of contemporary apparel in traditional block prints
Stories faces tell
Aditya Narula dabbled in various vocations before he realized portraiture was the best way to express the fascinating complexities of the people he encountered along the way
time tested DESIGN
Surrounded by art and architecture as a child, Sarah Sham went on to take the family antiques business in a new direction through her interior design venture
DANGEROUSLY DELICATE
Kavya Potluri's attention to minute detail is what sets her intricate and unconventional jewelry apart
music as muse
A multidisplinary visual artist, Aaron Pinto, also known as Kidsquidy, has had an interesting journey that started with MTV and has him now working on everything from music videos to stage design
DEVELOPING A DISCOURSE
Documentary photographer Taha Ahmad believes his work has a greater purpose than merely being admired by a select audience for its esthetic value. It's when people are able to see the underside of society and understand the prevailing social injustice that the work tries to reveal that it is truly worthwhile.
Tiny little Stories
Creating miniature worlds allows Ruchika Nambiar to continue to play childlike games of make-believe
The Richness Of Handmade
Amit Vijaya and Richard Pandav are committed to bringing together many hands and hearts through their clothing label ‘amrich’
The perfect balance
Aniruddh Mehta is as much graphic designer as visual artist, and he tries to do justice to both through his work at Studio Bigfat
