The Man is from Bhaktapur, Nepal. Pottery is his Family Business. He got it from his father, who got it from his father. He says, People don’t buy clay crockery anymore, they buy fancy stuff (by which he means plastics). His business is now an art, used as decorations in Restaurants. There is no money in it anymore, but he does it any ways. Because this is the process.
The Man
He is way past his retirement age and has a multi-generation family to provide. And this is his life today. He had a past, it must have been magical. Business was probably more profitable financially back then. But money is not a big factor for him. Money is for survival. Pottery is in his blood. He is probably the last generation to know this form of art. He has a responsibility of his Heritage and Art on his shoulder and it brings him joy to put them out for the world. He is a savior of Art.
Home
Bhaktapur, a small town very close to the vibrant and modern capital city Kathmandu. There are many other men like the Man, in Bhaktapur. Holding on to their Heritage, saving their Art. Wood-carvers, black-smiths, traditional instrument makers; all making last few pieces of these crafts. It is no different than any other place in the world, suffering from modern mayhem, one way or the other, wiping down history. But the town does not give up. It throbs in its own little economy of artists, local farmers and good human beings, encouraging everyone who visits, to take this simple joyful lifestyle home.
The process
Our existence in this planet, is nothing but a process. We don’t know why, we just go about doing things. Day in Day out. Every single one of us, generation after generation. We are not special, we are just a part of the process. But we are here now, and this is life. So why would we choose anything else but Joy? For whatever it is that we got as a part of the process, turn in into an Artwork. And be a good human being.
