K Gukanraj's story
Gukanraj studied ceramics design at the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai and since 2007 has been actively involved in developing the Ceramic Department at the Kalakshetra Foundation.
An artist of international repute, Gukanraj has several solo exhibitions to his credit and was a recipient of the 58th National Academy Award in 2017. He likes to challenge the rigidity of the material he works with and through his efforts, would like to share the language of ceramic arts with the rest of the world. His pieces are part of collections in the UK, Korea, and many museums and galleries all over India.
Being awarded the Charles Wallace scholarship was a significant event in my life and career which helped me to develop as a professional ceramic artist.
This scholarship gave me an opportunity to interact with various artists in the UK and India. It was through these interactions that I learned techniques which have helped me acquire knowledge and develop new skills in the field. Furthermore, it has enriched me as a ceramic artist and enhanced my methods of teaching young artists in this field.
When I decided to become a ceramic artist/potter, my parents who hail from a traditional Tamil village were not so happy as there are very few established studio ceramic artists in India. There was also a lack of willingness to share experiences and skills. This scholarship helped me to meet, interact and learn from many professional ceramic artists in the UK with different approaches. During the scholarship I had the opportunity to explore many different studios with a variety of equipment, clay materials, kiln and firing techniques.
This experience changed and enhanced my personal approach and creative process. Since this scholarship, I have built more kilns and set up fully equipped studios in different parts of India, including one at Kalakshetra Foundation which has become one of the most well-known studios in India. Under my leadership, Kalakshetra has hosted many national and international ceramic camps, like the Indo-Korean exchanges in 2012, 2015 and 2020. As a result of these initiatives, a number of young ceramic artists have been inspired and supported in the pursuit of their careers and they are now also applying for the Charles Wallace India Trust grant.
K Gukanraj
