Reflecting the pattern of sound waves

Maitri Chheda from Nagpur has received her Master's in ceramic sculpture from Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. She completed her BFA in Ceramics from Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai. Maitri was interested in art since childhood and she says, "Art and craft was my favourite pass time since childhood and my interest in this was much more than any other subject so thought to opt it as career."

Maitri's grandmother and my father are really good in many crafts and she feels that she got the talent from them. But when she said that she wants to pursue her career in art, little anxiety was there but still they supported her. She says, "Now they are happy with whatever I am doing."

A budding artist, Maitri's work has been showcased at 'ART 35' at the 4th edition of Affordable Art Fair, Mumbai, 'First Take 2019' by ABIR Art Foundation, Ahmadabad, 'Tree of Plenty' by Samanvai Art Gallery, Jaipur and 'Kalanand Art Contest' by Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation, Mumbai among many others. She has participated in workshops at Lalit Kala Academi, Lucknow, Department of Ceramics, IIT Powai, Mumbai, Department of Ceramics and Pottery, Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU, Baroda, Department of Ceramics and Pottery, Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai.

She describes her artmaking as still evolving which is shaped by her understanding of forms and their utility. Thus, for this exhibition she has chosen to start a dialogue about the fragility of ceramic as a medium and yet its transformation into a popular interactive object such as a music instrument.

About the challenges she says, "As I have chosen ceramics as my medium to work it takes lots of hard work. I don't have my own studio and I have to always find setups. As I keep traveling to different places there are always new challenges, new people and new work experiences so yes at every step there is a challenge."

Her works are an attempt to explore the multiplicity and possibilities of the material of ceramics, generally considered a traditional medium. She says, "For me, this medium can be explored beyond its tradition. I revolve around the aspect of hollow space and the associated elements of thickness and thinness of the material. Hollow spaces are parallels to that of the aspect of sound and the creation of sound. Through a lyrical engagement with these materials, composing through rhythm, repetition and pauses, I hope to transform music into physical manifestations. I believe the prevailing opinion about the fragility of ceramics as material needs to change, and that is a conversation I intend to start with my works."

"As I am creating possibilities of sound using clay as material I name my work as 'Sound of Clay'. Here in Kalakriti Art gallery I was a resident artist and explored sounds through this material making space amplifiers which are now added to my work and process," she shares.

The exhibition is titled 'The Sound of Clay'. It is on view from March 14th, 2020 till April 16th, 2020, at Kalakriti Contemporary, Club Botanika, Gachibowli