When I think Santiniketan (a place in India), I think of my mom (Maa). This post is an ode to her and her love for the place. In her words, “Ahh ki shanti ekhane” - “There is so much peace in here”.

In Santiniketan, artists mainly do Terracotta work. They take advantage of the red soil that is found naturally in the environment and make art a part of it.

What is Terracotta?

Terracotta is usually made from a fairly coarse, porous type of clay. This is first shaped (or sculpted), then fired until hard. In the ancient world, it was left to harden in the hot sun; later, it was baked in primitive ovens created in the ashes of open fires.

Wall art using Terracotta outside our house

Terracotta lamps

It was a pleasure to walk into this new age café.

Terracotta exhibition

The exhibition showed everyday life through the sculptures

Beautifully decorated mud house in Santiniketan

Passing by through the village, I spotted this house

An artists paradise

We visited a nearby studio in Santiniketan

In Hindu temples, idols are a symbolic icon. A murti (idol) is itself not a god in Hinduism, but it is a shape, embodiment or manifestation of a deity. Before each festival artists make these idols to celebrate.
Here is a process of making these idols by artists in Kumartunli, Kolkata, India

The idols are not made of baked clay or terracotta. They are made of sun-dried clay known as terracruda

Two types of clay are used during the process.
Entel mati – Black clay
Ganga mati – Soft white clay from the river bed

Terracruda evokes the ancient building material made from sun-dried mixes of clay, straw, and natural fibers.

After sundried, the first layer is painted white
Then another layer of paint is added
Most times, the face is made out of plaster molds
The whole process takes about 4- 5months

Framework is made of bamboo and dried straw which is then coated with layers of soft clay

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