G Reghu tells SM Verghis about the aesthetic feeling he gets from directly handling his medium, instead of working with a hammer and chisel
He often goes roaming around villages in tribal areas, remarking the reason is because, “you often encounter a very original way of living there. Along with original forms.”
G Reghu, who recently held a large show featuring sculptures in ceramic clay and bronze at the Visual Art Gallery is a Bengaluru-based Keralite, who used to be associated with Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal for some years.
He explained, “The late architect laurie Baker acted as a kind of guardian when I was growing up in Kilimanoor, Kerala. He supported my education and my art, buying me colours, paper and other material. His wife worked at a leprosy hospital near my house. That’s how I got in touch with Baker. I often helped him with drawing christmas greeting cards and images for him to share with others. And he gave me a room on his compound, from where I worked after I joined fine arts college.” Reghu studied sculpture for his degree, and began to use clay enamel from his time in Bharat Bhavan.
He had his own studio in a place near Bhopal called Rathbad, and was based there for about 15 years, until he got an invitation to shift down South. Reghu commented, “I feel that clay is one of the best materials to work with. One of the reasons that you don’t have to use a chisel and hammer. When you work directly on your medium using your hands, it gives you an aesthetic feeling that is like a pleasurable kick.”
He added, “Sometimes I work with bronze too. Currently I’m also using stoneware and ceramic clay, for which you have to apply more temperature.” His figures include quirky people whose features could easily slip into an animation film or cartoon strip. Some stand and gaze. One smokes, another pair appear to be in conversation.
Reghu said he usually has a story at the back of his mind when he sculpts. “The theme is rural, and tends to originate from places that I have visited, like Wynadu in Kerala and Bastar which both lie in the tribal belt.” Occasionally he uses locally available clay, and the colour (when its not ceramic) is natural. He remarked that he has a distaste for pottery. “I dislike its glaze and colour. Glaze has a glossy tone, which I feel is not as good as the natural colour you get after you burn it in a wood kiln. There’s a technical way to handle natural colour, and it involves burning the clay and letting the smoke and ash act upon it.” Reghu said he doesn’t “think too much,” when he’s sculpting. He will be holding a show in Chennai soon.