Ceramic workshop at NCA: Sprouting of new ideas
by Mian Naeem
For me it has been a wonderfully rich experience to have the opportunity of working in your country, and particularly with such a dedicated group of students. In NCA, I have found a lot of talented people, and all that they needed was a proper guidance to shape their creative abilities. In a very short spell of time they started under standing the form and decoration within ceramics, I think, it is a good start," says Peter Wilson, a high profiled Australian Ceramist on the opening day of a group show by participants of a four weeks workshop conducted by him. It was organised by Ceramics Department of National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore, for the students majoring in ceramics. The workshop culminated into an exhibition at the NCA gallery in the last week of October, where participants comprising students and teachers put on display. their works.
Mrs. Talat and Prof. Dabir Ahmad and three other junior teachers also participated in the workshop and displayed their
work. Among the teachers, Zafar's work is totally experimental; he went beyond the technical restrictions and came up with unique art pieces. Though his forms were heavy, the accidental glazing effects gave them a pretty look, Shazia displayed her test pieces. here was a high contrast of shapes in her miniature pieces and giant flower pots that were mainly functional. Ishrat Raza's work was a bit different and was all Greek to an onlooker. The use of ordinary glazes, stuck up kettle lids and monotonous forms, were not the work she knows for. Dabir seems restricted to the same stencil impressions treated differently with frit and various colours. Mrs. Talat also looked bound to produce the monotonous facades of walled city.
Among the students, Ghania's work was altogether different in approach as well as in technical handling. Inspired from the ocean life, she worked with glossy glazes; she used octopus, fishes, sea shells and relatively glazes them, at some places the cobalt splashes creates visual irritation. The fish skeleton, a motif from pre-historic cave paintings enhanced the traditional form of 'degchee'. Her work reflects an understanding of form and strong aesthetic sense. Choudhry Irfan is bold; enough to experiment with shapes; adding new elements with high contrast colours. Irfan have a variety of forms skilfully finished with matte glazes. In most of Isbah's worked, she avoided to go through the technical difficulties, playing with frit as she is influenced by Mian Salahuddin's style which enliven any object with the use of crystals.
Salman Ikram went through a series of shapes that gradually evolve. Using sculptural handles, carved decoration and textures, he has done a lot of experiments, somehow he accomplished with some nice matte glazes. He used antique ceramic forms, a few of them were glazed to give a metallic look. All of his work was non functional.
Ayesha Bashir inspired from antique forms, worked with sharp, curved, and angular forms. Despite the fact that she
was the most junior participant of the workshop. She looked confident and enthusiastic about her work. "It is the feel of
clay that enhances any soul towards ceramics. In other words, consider it as a part of human beings, which are the
containers in which soul is preserved. And for me, ceramics is the ultimate soul," said Ayesha.
Peter Wilson's highly professional work reflected his sound technical experience, commitment and rich aesthetics. He created mature forms of his own; a space ship sort of kettle with amazing cosmic glaze seems an object from some other world. He worked with a wide range of forms, colours and textures. All of his pots were designed for functional
purpose. Peter's work was a source of inspiration for young artists, a good example for ceramists and a fresh breeze for art lovers. "He is a nice humble man to work with, and of course a very good teacher as well as a versatile ceramist," said Prof Dabir Ahmed, the head of Ceramics Department NCA, Lahore
Business Recorder, November 14, 1998
