Painting On Pots | Niharika Hukku | Episode 1122

Niharika Hukku | Episode 1122

Multi disciplinary artist Niharika Hukku is based in Sydney. Niharika received her Bachelor of Fine Art in painting from the Delhi College of Art, India, and has undertaken studies in ceramics and sculpture in Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia. Niharika’s work has been featured in over 30 solo and group for exhibitions in California, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, and Wellington since 2009 such as, Arcadia Contemporary, USA(2019), Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney (2016, 2024), and the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. Her work has been a finalist in the , Mosman Art Prize, Sydney (2017), 29th Gold Coast International Ceramic Art Award (2014) and the Harden Art prize(2024), featured in the book ‘Earth and Fire’ and also illustrated a children’s book ‘This bird has arms’ which an honour book of the year. Her work has been acquired by Gold Coast City Gallery, and private collections in Australia and overseas.

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What is your favorite part the throwing or the painting?

I think throwing is my favorite when I am in the mood to throw. And painting is my favorite when I am in the mood to paint. (laughter) It’s the truth, it really is. There are times when I want to throw and there are times when I want to paint.

Do you have a making schedule? Do you schedule your week or your month? Throw here, paint here?

I think the scheduling is based around what I have coming up, what show I am in, who I am showing with. That kind of thing.

When you begin throwing and making do you have an idea of what the finished piece will look like?

Sometimes yes. And sometimes I just want to experiment with shapes and then I have to look for something that works for that shape. But generally I do have an idea, yes.

Does your form dictate what your surface design is going to be?

Absolutely. Yes, it definitely does. I do like to throw a certain kind of shape. I like the belly out, closed neck shape.

Do you ever get to a piece and have painters block?

There are many hours sitting at my desk not doing things, yes. Absolutely. (laughter)

How do you get past that?

I don’t. I think I just have to go with it really. Sometimes I just have to accept that I am going to have times where I am not feeling that prolific and I just have to go with it.

Is there a piece that you would love to make, to throw that you don’t have the skills yet?

Yes, always. I think there is so much you can throw and do in pottery and I don’t think a lifetime is enough really. I think sometimes you just have to focus on one direction and keep going because there is so much you can do. I would like to go up in scale I think that is something I don’t have the chops to do but I would like to go very big in terms of scale.