ARTIST SPEAK

Inspired by the most basic and intrinsic qualities of clay, ceramic artist Rekha Goyal expresses and showcases the raw form of human sentiments. Her work is a touch of modern and the minimal

Ceramist Rekha Goyal on her love for clay

Having worked for 17 years on installations and murals for private and public spaces, Mumbai based ceramic artist, Rekha Goyal has designed ceramic products in her own studio as well as for boutique lifestyle brands, and has been a part of the education space and projects in art therapy and artisanal craft. “Before clarity, there are questions. Before emotions, there is the turmoil of silence. Clay works in much the same way - before simplicity of form there is complexity of the process; of translating emotions and thoughts. This is the crux of my work today - channelising, sculpting and refining these complexities to achieve the dynamism of simplicity,” says Rekha.

“I realised that art is incomplete without applied science. It’s not always about just expression, it’s also a vision about how people are able to react and interact with your work.”

She feels that working with ceramic has an advantage - you need to be technically sound to be able to work with the medium. When I started with ceramics, I realised that art is incomplete without applied science. It’s not always about just expression, it’s also a vision about how people are able to react and interact with your work.

An avid traveller, Rekha has been widely quoted in national publications for her entrepreneurial work in setting-up one of India’s first networks of homestays. She has advised women groups in rural areas on generating livelihoods through sustainable tourism. She is also trained in the Indian classical dance forms - Bharatnatyam and Kathak. Unlike other jobs, ceramic puts Rekha in a spot where there is no comfort zone. That’s the best part of her passion, never any room for boredom, there’s only constant innovation and creativity.