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| Culture & Press Division >Culture & Event> | ||||||
| Embassy Opens Pottery Exhibition | ||||||
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A three week Japanese Pottery Exhibition was opened on Thursday 1 September 2011. The opening ceremony took place at the Modern Art Museum (Gebre Kristos Desta Center) located at Sidist Kilo adjacent to the Goethe Institute, on the premises of the Faculty of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa University.
Japanese Ambassador H.E. Mr. Hiroyuki Kishino, Minister of Culture and Tourism, H.E. Ato Amin Abdulkadir and the Ethiopian Ambassador to Japan, H.E. Ato Markos Tekle, officially opened the Exhibition in the presence of H.E. Professor Andrias Eshete, Advisor to Prime Minster with the rank of Minster, Ato Tesfaye Gelaye, the renowned Ethiopian potter residing in Japan, members of the diplomatic corps and high government officials. In his opening remark, H.E. Ambassador Kishino underlined that the exhibition will enhance the understanding of Japanese culture and promotes Japan-Ethiopia friendship at the grassroots level.
The theme of the exhibition focuses on “vessels” to illustrate how Japanese potters understand the function of a vessel, thus reflecting the nature of Japanese pottery today. “Each work is unique and genuine, all expressing simplistic beauty that the Earth and Nature provides us” Ambassador Kishino said. Stressing the influence of the work on Ethiopian potters, he further remarked, “the potters among us will feel inspired and I hope that we will soon see new styles emerging in their work.” As Ambassador Kishino noted, the exhibition introduced the work of a total of 35 artists active in seven traditional kiln sites in Japan. They differ in orientation, including some who carry on long traditions of pottery production while pursuing ever-richer standards in their craft, and others who seek to create individualstic works exploring new forms. The Minister of Culture and Tourism, H.E. Ato Amin Abdulkadir on his part underlined the importance of the exhibition, adding that a lot can be learnt from the Japanese ancient heritages of pottery making, preservation and use of technology. The ceramic arts flourish in Japan as in few other countries. Japan is said to been home to an immense number of potters and ceramic artists thanks to its large population who are highly knowledgeable about and appreciative of pottery. According to Ambassador Kishino, perhaps this is due to the distinct four seasons, the mild climate, and diverse terrain that have given the Japanese a special affection for utensils made from earth or clay, a basic natural material. The exhibition displays original works that vary from vessels for practical use to a genre that combines creativity employing traditional techniques and shapes, and vessels that are not concerned with practicality but explore new and experimental forms by introducing some of the promising artists working in traditional pottery areas who are producing notable contemporary works in the ceramic genre.
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