Under the 29th series of its online exhibition by Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, on Thursday open air exhibition Mythological Trail of IGRMS, Potter’s myth of Kutch, Gujarat has been presented with its basic information and photographs and videos.
About this exhibition, Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director, IGRMS said that The Mythological trail is an interesting and unique exhibition of IGRMS where myths and legends are depicted in different media like terracotta, stone, metal, wood etc.
Myth does not have any tangible forms. So it cannot be expressed always. One of the main objectives of this exhibition is to transform the intangible aspects into the tangible forms so that people can understand the myths very well. In this exhibition the folk and tribal artists from various parts of the country have attempted to give form to their myths, beliefs and rituals in their respective mediums and styles. Some have tried it before while some others have dealt with it for the first time here.In this context one such initiative can been seen in the mythological trail of IGRMS is the story of potter’s myth.
The pottery displayed here belongs to Khavda, a small village in Bhuj taluk of Kutch district, Gujarat. It is located very near to the Rann of Kutch. A wide variety of vessels, such as pots for storing water and grains, plates, big dishes, bowls, lamps etc are made.
Sara Ibrahim, a female potter from Khavda village has been continuing the craft for more than 40 years now. She has been honoured by Devi Ahilya National Award in the year 2001-02 by the Govt. of Madhya Pradesh for her dedication and continuous creativity towards clay craft and painting of pots. She has been associated with IGRMS since last thirty years, attended several workshops and artist camps organised by IGRMS in various parts of India.
She became a part of museum’s education programmes time to time and imparted training to participants. Sara Ibrahim’s husband Ibrahim Kasam is also an expert in making pottery. Both of them are taking forward a legacy that has been passed down from generations. Men do all the throwing work, the women make plates, dishes and bowls without wheel and do all the surface decorations.