Inspired by Goa’s marine life and a desire to preserve traditional crafts, ceramic artist Mampy Chodankar has transformed her passion for pottery into a creative enterprise rooted in artistry and education
VINIKA VISWAMBHARAN | NT BUZZ
The rhythmic spin of a potter’s wheel has become central to Goa-based ceramic artist Mampy Chodankar’s life. Indeed, for the past five and half years, the founder of Pottery Tale by Mampy has been spending her days working with clay at her studio in Sancoale, near Vasco.
“I have always been interested in art and craft,” says Chodankar. “Even during college, I was always drawn towards anything creative or design-related.” Life, however, initially took her in a different direction. For 13 years, she worked in the travel industry before discovering pottery through an intensive training programme. Later, she trained under ceramic artist Thomas Lewis and began building her own practice.
Today, her collection ranges from everyday tableware to decorative installations. “My functional pieces include cups, dishes and other wares that people can use every day. The artistic pieces are murals, installations and decorative works that can transform a space,” she says.
Her work also extends to handcrafted ceramic jewellery, which she regularly showcases at exhibitions and pop up stalls across Goa. Alongside creating pottery, Chodankar serves as a part-time pottery instructor at The Ardee School in Sangolda and conducts workshops
from her studio.
“Pottery is not only about learning a skill,” she says. “It is actually like meditation. In today’s busy life, people are dealing with hectic work schedules and studies. When they sit at the wheel or work with clay, they stop thinking about everything else. They focus on themselves.” This therapeutic aspect of pottery is something she hopes to bring to a wider audience. “My focus is to create a space where people can slow down, be present and enjoy the process.”
Goa’s natural beauty also plays a significant role in shaping her artistic vision as Chodankar finds herself deeply inspired by the marine world. “I am very connected to animals, especially marine life,” she says. “If you look at my work, you will often find fish, whales, octopuses and other sea creatures.”
She is fascinated not only by their forms but also by their behaviour. “I think about how whales raise their young, how they communicate and live together. Octopuses are incredibly intelligent creatures. I try to bring those stories into my pieces.”
Like many artisans, Chodankar recognises the challenges involved in sustaining a craft-based business. “Pottery requires firing, and that means you need proper infrastructure and permissions. Safety is
very important.”
Yet her greatest motivation comes from preserving a traditional craft that is slowly disappearing. “There are many skilled craftsmen in India who are leaving their craft because they don’t know how to market their work,” she says. “I was fortunate to learn through institutions that wanted to keep pottery alive.”
That sense of gratitude continues to guide her mission today. “If five people come to my class and even one person discovers a passion for pottery, I feel successful,” she says. “If I can spark that interest in someone and help change their life, then I have achieved what I set out to do.”
