Future of pottery

Have you seen the famous movie ‘Ghost’ ? If you have, there is likely to be one scene you will never forget; The scene where Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze ‘throw’ a pot as the strains of Righteous Brothers’ 1965 hit ‘Unchained Melody’ waft past your ears. (Instead of saying “turn,” potters say they’re “throwing” a pot as they shape it on a spinning wheel because it stems from the Old English word “thrawan,” meaning to twist or turn.)

Working with clay running through your fingers, caressing the shape of the pot as it spins in slick circles on the potter’s wheel – pottery has a unique appeal. It is a sensual art in every way. Having seen this film on blu-ray recently, I wanted to learn a little more about pottery, if not the art of pottery itself.

That should not be difficult in Sri Lanka, which is well known for its pottery products. There is a robust domestic demand for local pottery and a vast potential for more exports. But we can see a dark cloud – the younger generation is not warming up to this ancient art (The earliest pottery fragments were discovered in the Neolithic Age, 1650 B.C.) and there is a real danger that pottery as a craft and an industry may not survive here in the long run. Pottery is all about craftsmanship and artistry, which is a trait that should be preserved for the future.

It is in this context that we should laud Development and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karalliyadda for initiating an islandwide program to promote the pottery industry. The program was inaugurated in the Anuradhapura district recently.

Potter families in 24 villages in the Anuradhapura district are being provided with training, pottery making equipment and other infrastructure facilities to revive the industry under the project. They should be given enhanced training on designing decorative pottery items as well, apart from simple cooking utensils, oil lamps etc. Marketing facilities should be arranged for the villagers since specialised pottery shops are a rarity - they are more likely to be sold through garden centres, hardware stores and general groceries. Laksala and other handicraft emporia are also potential sales outlets.

Awareness

Talking of marketing, more awareness should be created about the health benefits of using pottery and earthenware products. As the minister has rightly pointed out, in addition to polluted and contaminated water, aluminum kitchen utensils cause kidney diseases which are spreading at an alarming rate in the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts. There is also a new variety of clay pots which can be used on a gas stove. More publicity should be given to such products. Using earthen utensils in place of aluminum vessels also helps empower those who are engaged in the pottery industry.

A survey should be conducted islandwide to obtain details on the number of families engaged in the industry and their requirements. New technology should be introduced where possible, though there will always be a market for entirely handmade pottery products, especially those featuring art.

For example, the latest pottery technique worldwide called “faux-saggar firing,” uses plant materials, salt and even banana peels pressed into the clay. The piece is then wrapped in foil and baked. It becomes an enviable piece of art.

Financial advice and assistance should be given to those aspiring to start a pottery business. For example, when establishing a small pottery business, it is advisable to first assess the local competition. In addition to finding out how many other potters are active in the area, it is important to discover what types of items they produce and the techniques they use. Banks will be inclined to give micro credit facilities to promising pottery businesses.

We have often seen scores of pottery outlets concentrated in the same area along major arterial roads in Sri Lanka, which diminishes business prospects across the board especially because they sell essentially the same products. Some of the shops may do better if they shift to another area away from the cluster and sell unique creations.

The West has seen a rekindling of interest in artfully made pottery products. This could be a lucrative opportunity for our pottery industry.

Moreover, Western schools are introducing pottery as a vocational subject.

Pottery as a subject should be popularised in our schools as well, so that at least some members of the younger generation will take it up either as a hobby or a vocation.

Popularised

Indeed, pottery should be popularised as a hobby among children and adults.

There is a ready market for exotic clay products here and abroad, so that the hobby could be financially beneficial as well. I have hardly seen advertisements in local papers for pottery classes, but it could be a success given the propensity of many people to embrace new hobbies. I am also not aware whether a potters’ association exists in Sri Lanka, but it is an idea worth exploring.

Most other countries have such associations, an example being the Craft Potters Association of the UK which represents the interests of studio potters across the UK. Pottery and ceramics auctions are also rare here - but there could be a good market from local and foreign art collectors if such events are held. Local potters could also benefit from the Internet in accumulating knowledge - there are a large number of pottery websites in cyberspace that share the latest tips and tricks.

The leading potters could also participate in foreign trade shows with EDB assistance, which will give them an opportunity not only to clinch deals but also to gain valuable insights to the latest trends in the industry.Pottery may be centuries old, but it has not lost its relevance in the modern world. From cooking your favourite dish to decorating your room, humble clay can do wonders.

Lending a hand to develop the local pottery industry is thus a timely move that will ensure a brighter future for all the craftspeople involved. The potters’ wheel will see a revolution in the coming years.