Events

This is a project that investigates the ceramic practice of the Velar, traditional artisans from southern India, known for creating impressive votive terracotta sculptures dedicated to the god Ayyanar and other deities from southern India and Sri Lanka. The initiative came about in 2019, following a trip by sculptor João Rolaça to Tamil Nadu, during which he observed the construction of the imposing terracotta sculptures up close.

The study revealed the technical and symbolic richness of this ancient tradition, sparking the desire to promote an artistic exchange between the Velar masters and the Portuguese artistic milieu. As a result, three master craftsmen from the villages of Thuvaradimanai and Malayiur took part in an artistic residency at the Oficinas do Convento in Montemor-o-Novo, where they created sculptures for the exhibition.