ARTS and CRAFTS
KUMBHAM
- Contemporary Terracotta
Contact: Aruvacode, Nilambur, Kerala 679 329
Ph: +91 4931–221544/ 221568 ; E-mails: kumbhammurals@rediffmail.com / claymurals@gmail.com
K B Jinan, Surabhi, S N Park, Trichur 680 004
Phone. +91 487–2386723/ 2386354 ; E-mail. jinankb@gmail.com
re-cognition.org/crafts/index.html
KB Jinan is the founder of KUMBHAM,
an artisan community that has rehabilated itself from the brink of losing
its craft, and is now redefining it for the modern world. KUMBHAM is located
in Aruvacode, a hamlet near Nilambur in Malapuram district of Kerala. Today
KUMBHAM can claim that it has facilitated a product range of over 500 designs
including kitchenware, garden amenities, furniture, office ware, murals,
landscaping products and other accessories. Mr Jinan states that one his
goals is not merely showcase terracotta as nostalgic substitute for plastic
and steel, but as a state of the art material, to create wholesome products,
both aesthetically pleasing and extremely useful. To those of us in the
general public, to whom terracotta is just unpainted pottery, this is revelatory
and thought provoking.
Mr Jinan says his quest began as
a search for identity, authenticity and self-redemption. It was a voyage
prompted by deficiencies of formal education, a sense of loss of innate
cultural sensibilities. It culminated in the founding of KUMBHAM, engaging
a community of potters whose craft was in its death throes, which helped
them realize their latent creativity and skills, whose products are sought
after.
Mr Jinan's hypothesis is that learning
is a biological process, not just a cultural activity. He believes that
formal education sets up a conflict between an innate impulse and forced
learning process. It is this restoration of learning at Aruvacode that
he believes is his true accomplishment, and the revival and renaissance
a consequence thereof.
Works of art created by Kumbham
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