‘All the same...all different’

From the mundane to the transcendental:

by Aditha Dissanayake

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As I look at the vessel in my hands, marvelling at its perfect balance of form and function, where the glaze and the clay appear effortlessly combined, its creator Ajith Manjula, a teacher in designs at the Dediyawala Ceramic Technical Training Centre shakes his head in dismay.

He says each time he opens the kiln he mentally crosses his fingers and prays “let this be one magnificent pot”. But it never is. Like all true artists he is never satisfied.

Yes, perhaps when it comes to his creations - which to me seem nothing but perfect. even though he disagrees. When it comes to imparting his knowledge to the students at the technical centre however, Ajith says he finds immense satisfaction, so much so that to him it is a state of “I-teach-therefore-I-am”.

He values his work at the centre, helping translate the skills of the students into objects of beauty, but laments that the institute is under utilized. “The knowledge of creating utensils in ceramic, ornaments and jewellery will help all those who seek self-employment or wish to have this as a hobby,” says Ajith.

Watching lumps of clay found in abundance around Dediyawala turn into objects of art it is hard not to notice the immense amounts of patience and anxiety and sheer joy that go into these priceless products.

The secret, according to Ajith, is to let the clay boss you around, working with it rather than trying to subdue it. The result - a salad bowl, a string of beads, a wall hanging, pieces of work elevated into something more than itself. How can we define this quality of turning the mundane into beauty?

Why not find the answer for yourself. The lessons in ceramic art at the Dediyawala Ceramic Training Centre managed by the Department of Industries (Western Province) are free. Not only free, but those who follow the courses on week days are also given an allowance. For more details contact the Officer in Charge, Dediyawala Ceramic Training Institute, Dediyawala, Kalutara-North. Tel: 034-2238540.

If you happen to go past the Training Centre located close to the Kalutara town, a few kilometres from Nagashandiya, towards Horana, right at the Dediyawala junction, do step in to take a look at the exhibits on display. You too might end up thinking to yourself, like the Japanese artist, Soji Hamada “They are all the same...all different”.