ART ICHOL, MAIHAR

                         

The residency takes place from Jan 31st to Feb 12th 2016 at Art Ichol In Maihar. Art Ichol is a Gallery Sanskriti (Kolkata) initiative under the direction of Ambica Beri. They host art retreats at the Maihar House and Art Ichol, large permanent facilities specifically designed for artist residencies since 2014. The current international residency curated by artist Madhvi Subrahmanian, consists of 7 artists from 7 countries countries (most of whom have never visited India or met each other) . This  residency provides a platform to explore, experiment and examine contemporary practices within large scale ceramic practices. It is is an opportunity for artists from different countries to interact and question, debate and deliberate , experiment and explore new ideas and concepts - individually and collaboratively.

The residency artists are:

ALVIN TAN TECK HENG (SINGAPORE)

As an object maker, Alvin produces ceramic objects that attempt to present a subjective interpretation of the existential dilemma of our current age. He has been working with clay for more than two decades and has exhibited in several group and solo shows worldwide. His works are in several collections and have won prestigious awards like the 4th Global Art Movement Competition in Toyota City Museum, Japan and Golden Teapot Competition in Ying Ge Museum, Taiwan.

JACQUES KAUFMANN (SWITZERLAND)

Having studied ceramics in Geneva, Jacques worked in Swiss Cooperation, Rwanda from 1984-1986. His work deals with questions of inter-cultural exchanges, “back to origin” of the ceramic's technology, “ earth scale” and “site spirit”. From 1995-2014, Jacques has served as the chair of the ceramics department, Vevey’s Applied Art School. Since 1999, Jacques has engaged in several projects in China. Currently he is the President of the International Academy of Ceramics.

KATHY ERTEMAN (USA)

Kathy received her BFA from California State University Long Beach. She is known for designer tableware and architectural wall works. Exhibited internationally her work is included in private and public collections such as Renwick Gallery/Smithsonian Institute, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Taipei Museum of Fine Arts and SC Johnson Collection. She is a recent recipient of the US Dept of State Professional Fellows Cultural Exchange Grant working with Tibetan potters in Yunnan, China.

MADHVI SUBHRAMANIAN (INDIA)

Having trained at Golden Bridge Pottery, Pondicherry with Ray Meeker and Deborah Smith, she received her Masters In Fine Arts under Peter Beasecker at SMU, Dallas Texas. She is known for her large-scale works and installations dealing with seeds, pods and ideas of movement and migration. She has exhibited internationally and her works are in several public and private collections such as Mumbai airport (India), Lohia Art Foundation (Indonesia), FuLe International Ceramic Museum (China), and Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park (Japan).

NAIDEE CHANGMOH (THAILAND)

Soon after graduating in painting from Chiangmai University Naidee moved into making terracotta sculptures. As a Buddhist he seeks to express child-like purity, spontaneity, fullness and happiness in his work. Naidee has been invited to international festivals and conferences to demonstrate and show his work including the Gyeonggi International Ceramics Biennale in Incheon, Korea and the International Ceramics Festival, Aberystwyth UK . His work is in several private and public collections all over the world.

SANDY BROWN (ENGLAND)

Since training in Japan over 40 years ago Sandy Brown has become one of the world’s leading ceramic artists. She exhibits all over the world and her work is held in over 40 museum collections internationally. She is credited with being an influential force, known for her exuberance, freedom and celebration of colour.  She makes pots for use, large sculptures, and her latest project is her most ambitious to date: a full size ceramic Temple, a building!

THIEBAUT CHAGUE (FRANCE)

Began his career in 1976, training in France, Belgium and England under stalwarts like Michael Cardew and Richard Batterham. Thiébaut is known for his monumental and organic wood fired sculptures. In 2009 he built a giant clay sculpture, which he fired in the courtyards of the Victoria & Albert Museum, UK. Examples of his work can be found in many public collections including the V&A museum UK, Grassi Museum Leipzig, Germany and Musée de Sèvres Paris, France.