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Anuradha Roy, Propaganda ceramics, British Ceramics Biennial, a new Culture Secretary

Award-winning author Anuradha Roy on her new novel, The Earthspinner. Propaganda ceramics supporting the abolition of slavery. Clare Wood on the British Ceramics Biennial.

Award-winning author Anuradha Roy crafts pots as well as prose. She joins us live from India to discuss the fusion of ceramics and storytelling, pottery and politics in her new novel, The Earthspinner, a coming of age story set between two continents.

At a recent auction some 19th century pottery jugs, expected to fetch £100 or so, sold for £3,000 - £4,000. They were bought by major museums vying to add them to their collections. The jugs' selling point was that they were decorated with anti-slavery images or celebrations of abolition. Clare Durham, ceramics specialist at auctioneers Woolley & Wallis, who sold them, talks to Kirsty Lang about pottery propaganda and the increased interest in such pieces.

The British Ceramics Biennial is the largest ceramics event in the UK. Its new artistic director, Clare Wood, joins Front Row to discuss the shortlist for the festival’s contemporary ceramics prize and to reflect on a new artwork that puts slavery on a plate.

Nadine Dorries replaces Oliver Dowden as the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Â鶹ԼÅÄ Arts Correspondent Vincent Dowd discusses the implications.

Main image: A plate from Jacqueline Bishop's History at the Dinner Table exhibition.
Image credit: Jenny Harper

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28 minutes

British Ceramics Biennial

British Ceramics Biennial
The runs in Stoke-on-Trent until 17 October 2021.Ìý      Jacqueline Bishop's is at the Good Yard, Stoke-on-Trent until 17 October 2021.Ìý    Images:  Main image above: a plate from History at the Dinner Table by .Ìý    Image to the left: Members of the public trying ceramics at Stoke Makes Plates, BCB 2021.Ìý  Images credit: Jenny Harper

Anti-slavery ceramics

Anti-slavery ceramics
Image: An anti-slavery jug from the Robin Simpson Collection sold by Woolley and Wallis.Ìý The text reads "Am not I a man and a brother".

Anuradha Roy

Anuradha Roy
by Anuradha Roy is out now in hardback.Ìý    Image: .Ìý

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  • Wed 15 Sep 2021 19:15

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