PLAYROOM 2
Ceramics from Auroville by
SARASWATI (Renata Sereda)
10 – 30 March 2017
Gallery Gitanjali, Goa
Magic in her eyes and magic in her work, Sarawasti (named after the Indian goddess for creativity, perfection and knowledge in charge of the art of sciences) truly wears her name well.
This talented ceramist, originally from a small village in Russia where she was a news reporter, was trained by her mother Anna, an expert in ceramic work, who taught her everything from scratch. In India ceramics became Saraswati’s first profession. She now teaches children as well and has developed her own jewellery line.
For Saraswati, ceramics is not only about craftsmanship; it is also about surprises, joy and discovery. Every piece is unique and cannot be reproduced, as it depends on all kinds of different factors like glaze, heat, and delicate balance and play with different materials. “The best results are often a mistake!” says Saraswati. The results are certainly distinctive, individual and her aim is to keep on experimenting. She emphasizes though that it is all about hard work, especially physical effort, and it also demands the involvement of all the family.
Her husband built her one of the jewels of her life, the so precious tool of any ceramic artist…the magic oven. Her eyes sparkle as she stands in front of her “crystal ball” and explains how the heat will define the result, beauty and magic of anything that will emerge out it, almost like an abracadabra.
Pottery used to be only functional and it became an art and started to blossom in modern times. Picasso is an example of a studio potter who led the way in the middle of the 20th century. Now art galleries all over the world are presenting ceramic art exhibits.
In this exhibition at Gallery Gitanjali in Goa, Saraswati will show 33 pieces. These are her latest work and a product of her playful creativity defined by the will to want to create something new as well as allow the influence of master painters like Paul Klee, Miro and Vassily Kandisky.The subjects are various and the compositions and construction are of high and diverse qualities, from useful to decorative. The most amazing part of this work remains the texture and the nuances of the colours. Like labradorite or opal, the colours shine and shimmer with the light, with mesmerising sparkles that makes one wonder about the subtle play between man and nature.
Seeing Saraswati’s work reminds one that ceramic work is an investment in beauty and artistry and ceramic art enhances the world by its presence. Every hand made ceramic pot or object is unique and satisfies our urge to create something beautiful and useful as an example of creativity and life itself.
These are certainly magical pieces!
This article was written by Chana Corinne Devor for Auroville Art Service. Presently exploring Auroville, she is an art critic and writes for international travel and spiritual magazines.
