T he city has several art galleries on its list but a gallery like Manora focusing on one medium was missing from the rosters. And pottery lovers would be particularly excited to know that the space is dedicated to pottery and ceramics. The new space launches itselfwith 'Gondwana Horizon' a solo show by Australian ceramic artist Barbara Campbell-Allen on January 21.
Visibly pleased with her venture, Gomathi Suresh, the force behind Manora, explains, "Barbara is a class artist who does sculptural pottery. She does long wood firing in a Japanese kind of kiln."
Gomathi's love for the medium can be fathomed once you learn that she has also been learning the craft for years now under the guidance of Barbara.
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With the city discovering a new found love for pottery - Bengaluru hosted its first ever potters market last year - Gomathi found the time ripe for the move. And though Gomathi is an admirer of stoneware and earthenware, she is open to showing as many varieties possible. "We can have shows highlighting porcelain, different kinds of firing, glazing. Glazing itself is an art. I want to show upcoming artists, established names from India and abroad and even students. I want artists, institutions to send me exciting proposals," says Gomathi.
Intending to showcase 90 per cent ceramic art, Gomathi will be curating two shows in a year. And in March, she will mark her foray into the world of curation with a two women show of an Indian painter and Australian ceramic artist. Spending half her time in Sydney, Gomathi is familiar with the art scene there. In fact Manora is not an entirely a new story and has links with Australia.
In 2001, at the same location, Gomathi had the Manora design store which boasted reed giftware and functional pottery which was exported to Australia. "I had a kiln here. One potter was running workshops. We did experimental work with Raku pottery. There were handicrafts, textiles. But since I was living in Australia, it became difficult to manage," recalls Gomathi. Though Art Weaves is very much around. It is an organisation which primarily promotes Australian Ceramic art through exclusive exhibitions and international art Fairs, bridging continents in cross-cultural conversations. Based in Sydney, Art Weaves provides curatorial management, international art business development.
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In its second innings, Manora has emerged as a full-fledged art space, with high ceilings, professional lighting, 15 foot high display wall. "We are open to video art, sound art and anything as long as it is quality. Curators, artists, consulates, outstation galleries can call me or send me proposals which will then be filtered by a panel. We can even hold a boutique corporate event, a health discussion for intimate groups, an evening of tabla recital. Why can't these things happen in an atmosphere like this? Why can't we take art to different sections of the society in this way." Gomathi through Gallery Manora also has plans for young art students. The director at ECOF industries which manufactures Sabeena detergent has also instituted a student art prize to a promising talent. "I have full faith in today's young population and being in a location like this, I believe, we will have lot of youngsters hopping into the gallery. Some of them could be art students and I want them to feel as if they are part of the set up."
(Gallery Manora launches with Barbara Campbell's show "Gondwana Horizon" on January 21 which will be on till February 19. The artist will also deliver a talk on January 21 at Gallery Manora 56-A, 100 Ft.Road, Indiranagar, I Stage)