KOCHI: All those who admire anything natural can come to the museum auditorium in the city, as the place is hosting a spectacle of a different kind. More user-friendly and natural, these are words that could be used to describe the terracotta exhibits. A variety of earthernware can be seen exhibited at the venue as part of the Terracotta exhibition cum sale at the venue conducted by Anaswaram Swayasahaya Sangham, the Nilambur unit of Kudumbasree.
Ranging from coffee mugs, small and large, the list goes on to kitchen utensils like earthern pots, cooking utensils, storage vessels, kettles or bharanis and more. Want a few simple good luck charms to hang in front of your door? What about terracotta showpieces? One can find all these and more showcased as part of the exhibition. Kathakali images, good luck charm, candle stands-the list is huge.“The works have been done by around 10 artistes from Nilambur, which have been brought here for the event, says Vijayalakshmi, one of the organisers of the exhibition. Going on to say that there is a good response for the expo cum sale, she adds, “I feel people are gradually starting to come back to the old ways of nature, preferring to cook and even drink from earthenware vessels.Many people are starting to understand the benefits of choosing terracotta over others. That was the reason we came up with this event.”
Terracotta murals are yet another speciality among the displayed items. Beautiful images of Krishna, Ganapathy and other deities carved on clay-based structures are sure to catch one’s eye. Though simple, the figurines carved on tiles made from baked clay looked charming and elegant. The exhibition showcased around 1000 handicraft pieces, all clay-based, says Sujesh Babu, one of the organising members.”The advantage of using Terracotta is many. While vessels made from aluminium and steel could cause cancer with these eventually disintegrating and mixing with what we eat, terracotta is purely natural. Also, if we use it well, they will last longer,” he adds.
The terracotta exhibition was inaugurated recently by members of the self-help group .
Adding that there is good sale for the products, she adds, “The cooking utensils are the fastest moving. The terracotta murals are something else which is in high demand.” This is the third time the unit is holding its exhibition in the capital. The event will be on till Monday. The venue is open to the public from 10 am to 8 pm.