Find Your Story

It is a very cold, snowy and windy Sunday in Toronto, a day to stay indoors. With a cup of chamomile tea on the carved wooden table beside me, I relax in my cosy armchair.

As I take the first sip of tea, my eyes wander around the room and then rivet on a ceramic wall hanging. Its graceful shape and bright flaming colours seem to provide added warmth. And I recall where I acquired this unique treasure.

Situated on the bank of longest river in Turkey, River Kizilirmak, commonly known as the Red River, is the town Avanos. Several years ago, on a trip to Turkey, I took a tour that included a visit to Avanos, that for centuries has been a pottery-making town. When I disembarked from the tourist coach, I walked towards the ceramic museum with no expectations. On entering the complex, I paused and saw potters preparing the clay, centring it on the wheel and giving them different forms. It was a fascinating sight.

As I went into different parts of the building, the variety and intricacy of the art on display, the richness of the shapes, size and colours made me feel like Aladdin in the cave of treasures. As I admired the fascinating pieces of art, Chez Galip, known as the Ceramic Master appeared, and gave a personal tour of the different sections and explained in detail, the making and meaning in each work of art. Pottery making has been handed down from generation to generation in Avanos and one can feel the learnings and skills of the centuries in the work of the artists.

The visit to Chez Galip’s pottery museum remains a highlight for me years later and its memories are preserved in the ceramic wall décor that adorns my home. I look at the vivaciously bright and intricate artwork in its multiple hues. The graceful shape at times resembles the fins of fish from one angle and a flower vase from another. What is the pattern of flowers conveying? From seed to flower to seed, the cycle of evolution continues. Is that the message?

I wonder what the potter wanted to convey through the shape of the clay and the colourful design. In this ceramic wall decor, there is a story: the potter’s story, my story and now your story.