Blue Ceramic Bowl Gravy Boat Artisan Crafted in India, "Billa Trinerta"

"I'm Anupama Jalan, a ceramist from Kolkata.

"Pottery is a creation, a vocabulary of form and surface, touched with contrast. It radiates a universal spirit.

"I've been exposed to art of all kinds since I was a child. While I was in school, I decided to learn sculpture. The versatility of clay as a medium of creation strongly appeals to me. Its versatility inspires me and allows me to use my creativity and skills to create artistic and functional pottery.

"As a medium, clay is mystical and philosophical. It is malleable. It can take on an imprint and be manipulated and transformed into a new reality. A cup is one of the most fundamental objects of civilization with a basic function. I strive to renew ancient concepts by redesigning them. Thus each new creation has its own unique character with perfect imperfections.

"In the early 21st century, ceramics and pottery didn't have a place in Indian homes. Today, they've become a necessity in every household. It's taken a lot of work to get where I am today — working endlessly on the wheel, learning to break the pieces during the process and not attach myself to the creations. Mastering the art of creating pottery is a constant process of experimenting and learning — with shapes, designs and glazes.

"Clay is both easy and difficult to use as it brings about many cracks and must be handled gently. It can be reused when it's in the grey stage. We prepare all our glazes ourselves.

"Nature is my constant source of inspiration. I am always deeply moved by natural elements and habitats. Its influence shows in my pottery, which is very earthy and reflects my love of nature. It keeps me connected to the roots of life. Geometric shapes capture my attention and I translate them. Young artisans I am training help me by bringing fresh concepts to our brainstorming, ideas and designs.

"Simple shapes and uncluttered environments also fascinate me. With that in mind, most of my designs have a single strong element like a flower, leaf, bird, symbolic motif or simply a geometric-inspired shape with an interesting glaze. This accentuates the individuality of each piece.

"I wish to continue developing functional and aesthetically appealing tableware and home accessories. I want my pottery to be a part of people's daily lives around the world. I want my designs to create novel experiences in the world of art. Some may not be very creative but I would like their simplicity and color combinations to be recognized. Even though we use modern geometric motifs, my pottery could be classified as traditional with a touch of India."