Written by: Chaman Ryngkhlem, Fifth semester, Media Technologies,2023.
In a small village there's a man named Mething Shylla who knows how to make beautiful things out of clay. From the moment he wakes up, Mething spends his days shaping and molding clay into intricate designs. This visual story follows Mething as he shows us the entire process of pottery making, from collecting the clay to creating the final product. Through these images, we gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and importance of this traditional craft. Mething's story is a reminder of the connection between the earth and the people who inhabit it, and the way that pottery making can bring a sense of peace and purpose to those who practice it.
Mething Shylla is a 50-year-old man, he makes a living through pottery. He had faced many problems while making it and spends ample amount of time and money in making it. At present he even receives orders from abroad and exports it to countries like – Germany, Spain and Japan. They make it with Black Clay and can be found only in one particular place called Sung in West Jaintia hills, they had to struggle a lot and be careful while digging it as it takes about 20 feet under for them to get the clay out.
The process in making the clay starts with a lump of clay. Placing the clay on a bowl board. Once you've shaped the lump of clay by stabbing it, carry it to roll it on the bowl board. After rolling, using a carving tool to cut it into the size of a pyrma (Clay pot) and place it inside. Then, take a cloth to clean and shape it nicely within the pyrma (Clay pot). Once you've completed placing and cleaning, cut the mouth into the desired shape. After allowing it to dry for a day, carefully remove it from the pyrma (Clay pot).
After removing it from the pyrma (Clay pot), carefully cut the mouth into the desired shape using a carving tool, ensure it aligns with the specified size. Once the mouth is cut, it will assume a pleasing shape. Following this, dampen the piece and use a cloth to rub it with a stone, smoothing out any holes or imperfections, thereby shaping it effectively.
After smoothing out the holes, wait for two days for it to set properly. Then, take another smooth stone and polish it within those two days.
After finishing the polishing, they let it dry outside for a week. Following this, they place it in a kiln for the first firing, known as bisque firing. This firing eliminates any remaining moisture, preparing the pottery for glazing until it turns red. Once taken out of the kiln, they coat the pottery with a color obtained from grinding the cover of the Tree of Sohliya, soaking it in water until the desired color is achieved. After the color changes, they allow the pottery to dry completely before firing it again in a second round to prevent cracking. Upon finishing the second firing, they polish the glazed pottery and store it before proceeding to the next step. The glazed pottery is fired in the kiln at a high temperature suitable for the chosen glaze. Immediately after removing it from the kiln, they place the pottery in hot water.
As we come to the end of our visual story, we are left with a deep appreciation for the beauty and importance of pottery making. Mething Shylla, the skilled potter from Tyrshang West Jaintia hills, has shown us the entire process of creating pottery, from the extraction of clay to the final product. We have seen the way that pottery making can bring a sense of peace and purpose to those who practice it. Mething's story is a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and passing it down to future generations. May his craft continue to thrive and inspire others for generations to come.
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