Hunting Potters in South Asia

This is a non-fiction account of Jabe Gibson's travels and experiences around South Asia visiting potters and studying the ceramic traditions of the Indus civilization down to modern times.
Traveling in and around South Asia and at times resident in Karachi, Jane offers a unique account of
the countries and their people in terms of ceramic traditions.
She also taught pottery classes at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi as well as American and British schools - which offers a unique perspective to the reader.
The book has ample photographs that illustrate her visit to pottery villages, ancient and medieval sites as well as potters. Her photographs are testimony to her tireless travels in a part of the world that has sadly suffered from security issues.
Hunting Potters is an easy-to-read publication and will certainly interest those who have visited or plan to visit these countries, beyond the usual tourist traps. It will also interest those who are keen to understand the pottery traditions and heritage of South Asia.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Hunting Potters in South Asia: A 26 year Journey in Search of the Traditional Potters of India and Pakistan by Jane Gibson is a nonfiction study in the pottery traditions of Indo-Pakistan. The book revolves around the author, Jane Gibson, who spent decades traveling throughout South Asia, documenting the lives and works of traditional potters. She traveled to places that are rarely seen by Western visitors, and the photos that she took are a treasure trove of information that will likely never be seen again.

Here is an excerpt from the Introduction that explains Jane's interest in South Asian pottery:

"Her interest began when the family lived in Karachi, Pakistan for a year in 1992 when her husband worked as a doctor at the Aga Khan Hospital and Jane worked as volunteer physiotherapist. She also taught ceramics at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture. Whilst living there and subsequently, they travelled widely, and it was here that she started to appreciate the skills of the village potters. Due to cultural norms, the traditional potters are not viewed in the same way as studio potters. In the following years, they attended medical conferences all over South Asia, allowing Jane, with difficulty and perseverance, to continue tracking down the potters."

Overall, Hunting Potters in South Asia is a fascinating look into a little-known and dying cultural practice in South Asia. I have to admit that this book is not the type of book that I typically read. I don't often read nonfiction, but I was attracted to the ability to learn about a part of a culture that I rarely read about and that I want to be better-versed in. I am giving this book 5 stars, because it is very informative and taught me a lot about South Asian pottery.

One highlight of this book are the amazing pictures that are spread throughout every chapter. A lot of books like this like to skimp on the photos, but this book has full-color photos galore. Another highlight is the interest and respect that the author clearly has for this little-known art. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're interested in learning more about South Asian pottery, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!