Infusing life into baked earth

Human civilization everywhere in the world is linked in some way or the other with the ancient form of art called terracotta.

Terra cotta otherwise called as 'baked earth' in Italian is a waterproof ceramic. Its uses include pottery vessels, older wastewater drains, and as surface embellishment in building construction.

Terra cotta has been used throughout history for sculpture and pottery, as well as bricks and roof shingles. The legacy of terracotta is deeply associated with original Dravidian culture. The village gods like Iyyanarappan, Subdhamuni, Vazhmuni, Veerapatraswamy, Karuppannaswamy and saptakanni (seven spinsters) were all made of terracotta before the advent of mortar lime and cement. Even today larger than life size statues of terracotta can be seen in villages like Thennampakkam and Puthupattu. A hamlet called Thirumangalam near Ulundurpet remains today the virtual treasure house of ancient terracotta artifacts.

All the terracotta works are handmade with locally available resources like bamboos sticks and wooden needles. The clay sculptures are first dried (baked) in the sun after being formed. Later, they are placed in the ashes of open hearths and fired in the traditional way to harden. The fired figures can be sold either with natural colors or can be dipped in a mixture of orange powder, red oxide, Asian enamel and terracotta paint for brightness.

The earthenware is hand-molded into various figurines, images and plaques. Terracotta is molded in many states into figures inspired by local legends and iconography, and has been practiced for centuries, since the Harappan civilization.

The rural parts of India commonly display terracotta animal figures in places of worship or in the vicinity of temples. In some parts of Indian villages, the women folk create their own forms of Gods for worship and other decorative pieces for adorning their houses.

The beautiful terracotta works are ideally used for decoration. People in states of Bihar, Bengal and Gujarat prepare clay figures to propitiate their Gods and Goddesses, during festivals. Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh is the home to exquisite clay figures of animals. The potters create the basic form by throwing separate pieces on the wheel and then joining them. They are then fired and then painted brilliant colors.

In the South India, Tamil Nadu is famous for the terracotta figures of the Aiyanar Deity. Huge figures are created as standing guards at the entrances of villages protecting the insiders from evil spirits.

Today, terracotta pot and pottery, though is not used for basic needs, a designer pot, nevertheless, has retained its pride of place for exciting interior designing and decoration. Skilled pottery work still evokes a rare affinity, not known by any other form of craft.

While retaining the aura and looks of natural terracotta, skilled Indian potters apply twists and turns, cut patterns and myriad shapes on the body to produce offbeat terracotta pots. A vast range of vases, candleholders, hanging pots, wall hangings, planters and bells are also made for home decoration and special occasions. Available in variegated designs these terracotta items seem quite popular with the international buyers.

Terracotta handmade designer decorative tiles have also gained immense popularity worldwide. Each tile design depicts a particular theme that, together with other similar tiles, makes a pattern. These terracotta tiles are used for walls and ceilings and not for floors. The designs in handmade terracotta tile range from geometric to floral and Indian folk designs.

Clay potters of West Bengal, in Kolkata and its suburbs are famous for making clay and terracotta idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses like Ganapati (the Elephant God), Durga, dancing Nataraj, Shiva and Buddha. Superior terracotta craftsmanship is skillfully used for making sculpted murals.

According to Kalaimamani V K Munuswamy an accomplished craftsman, terracotta can be utilised for creation of cinema settings and master craftsman Munuswamy is already associated with the famous directors in the film industry.
 
Munuswamy is also being associated with Pondicherry based toy makers' co-operative societies like Pommai and Pudhumai. “I have so far trained about 300 students in Terracotta art”, he says who is very keen in promoting the art form to the oncoming generation. Two of his students were from Thailand and Indonesia. He also taught terracotta craft as resource person for 2000 craft pictures all over India. He said that a separate school for terracotta might be started to promote the ancient art form he advocated.

The craft being very old and ancient is undergoing a complete revival and experts feel, it is still evolving.