• Vipul uses mineral glazes to evoke volcanic rock and erosion in his clay works
• His porcelain pieces achieve their textures through gas-kiln firing
• He preserves the essence of the clay by working without a fixed image in mind

Previously trained in sculpture and stone carving, Vipul Kumar changed course to build large ceramic forms in porcelain. Based in Bhainslana, a village near Jaipur, he works entirely by hand, pinching and modelling the clay, adding paper and grog to keep the walls thin and light before firing in a gas kiln. Vipul works with mineral glazes and colourants to create surfaces that are weathered and cratered, resulting in finished forms that look as though they have survived geological events. His creations address ecological damage, social corruption, climate anxiety, mythology and spiritual inquiry. “When I play with the material, something new appears. I no longer worry whether the work will be a success,” he says. A willingness to take risks is central to his process. “Nothing is perfect. If perfection existed, there would be nothing left to do,” Vipul explains.