Magic with Mud and Devyani Smith

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4 Comments
Studio pottery...
Creating art with my hand and it emerging from a spinning wheel, like a rabbit out of a magician's hat, has always spelt magic and intrigue for me.


I was at the house warming party of a friend when a piece of  pottery, a vase, caught my eyes. It blended well with the decor yet maintaining its identity, adding a calming zen effect to the set up. 

 The design story, I believe, is never complete without the designer's story, so I got digging and discovered Devyani Smith. One who impeccably knows the alchemy of clay. In her quiet studio in Mumbai she churns out magic from mud every day. Having had a keen incline to create artistic content with her hands she initially wanted to learn carpentry.  In 2008 she started with wheel-thrown pottery and developed a keen connection to the mystique of creating shapes from the formless. In 2014 she worked as an volunteer in Auroville and in her journey of bonding with the good earth she moved on to make her own studio in Mumbai.

Studio pottery having emerged in the early 20th century, has strong roots in Britain and is a lot about tableware. This movement is represented by works of several pioneering artists. Devyani's favourite potter being Lucie Rie, who is famous for her bowls and vases. Devyani crafts each tableware, individually with strong imagination, intensive detailing and aesthetic appeal. Every piece whether it is a cup, a bowl or plates are unique and great buys to procure for your home collection.



This tenderly coloured, demurely-glazed, delicate, mordernist pottery stands out with its rustic, oriental look. Though we spoke about studio pottery being more about tableware, mammoth number of creative artists have taken to non-functional design forms, such as vases and decorative sculptures. Devyani too loves making vases and pours her soul and design signature onto them. "Each piece that comes out of the kiln is a part of my life" she says. So once she is done with her clay work, she puts it in the kiln and lets go of it, to take its destined shape and look. Having grown up in the mountains, her work carries a strong presence of the mountain terrain in form and texture.


Devyani Smith's work can be bought from exclusive pottery exhibitions. She also sells from Paper boat in Goa and Bungalow 8 in Wankhede, Mumbai. The secret of course would be to hop into her private workshop, have some fun, meet her feline companions and get a stunning deal too. Seeing the glee on her students' faces, while they learn from her, you too might get inspired to take one of her tutorials.

I am glad that in my search for pattern in chaos, I met a shy ceramist whose work speaks volumes. These artworks can be stunning elements to add beauty to your space or even a design story for every tea or meal that you share with your friends. Now as I furiously work on my laptop to finish this post, a soul-touching zen cuppa coffee is my new thinking-mate. 
Note:
Devyani Smith Studio Pottery
+919820225003
Video courtesy Aparajita Saha, Sutej Singh 






About Post Author

Architect, Photographer, Bookworm.
Lifestyle and Design Hunter. In search of Pattern in Chaos.

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4 comments:

  1. Unknown27 May 2016 at 05:07

    Very nice post on Devyani Smith Studio Pottery. The style of introduction and narrative is very well done. The pics are also quite complimenting. Loved reading it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown27 May 2016 at 05:29

    Very nice....very well presented

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown27 May 2016 at 05:29

    Very nice....very well presented

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown27 May 2016 at 05:45

    You write so well it makes the article more fun

    ReplyDelete

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Architect.
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Bookworm.
Lifestyle and Design Hunter.
In search of Pattern in Chaos.
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Design writer at Better Interiors

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