Kristine Michael

I work as a practising ceramic artist in New Delhi and Pondicherry. I began my research projects as self-initiated ones, because as a part time visiting faculty at the TVB School of Habitat Studies, IIT Design Centre, Bombay, and the MS University Baroda, I realised the lack of any scholarship in the area of ceramics by art historians. I wanated to teach about the Indian historical engagement with ceramics, seeing myself at the present end of a long line of makers. But other than dry archaeological type ceramic-find-from-digs books, I couldn't locate any lively debate or research into our ceramic history, particularly glazed are. This four week travel grant allowed me to acquire information for my study of the pionners of the Indian studio pottery movement. This project had earlier been funded for one year's research by the Vikram Sarabhai/Eicher Foundation. I was able to work at the V&A Museum, National Art Library, Craft Council Archives, Dartington, the British LIbrary.