12TH MEHMET NURİ GOCEN FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL CERAMIC WORKSHOP

The 12th Mehmet Nuri Gocen Foundation International Ceramics Workshop, led by Mehmet Tuzum Kizilcan, was held in Kusadasi in October. With the participation of artists from various countries, from the US to Thailand, and from Denmark to India, the workshop was an artistic gathering focused on intercultural interaction and sharing.

MEHMET TUZUM KIZILCAN, PROF. DUYGU KAHRAMAN

The 12th Mehmet Nuri Gocen Foundation International Ceramics Workshop was held in Kusadasi from October 1–12, 2025, under the sponsorship of Pine Bay Hotels & Resorts. Bringing together national and international ceramic artists, the workshop utilized various production techniques and firing methods, creating an artistic gathering focused on intercultural interaction and sharing. Twenty-two participants from India, Hungary, Israel, Italy, the United States, Germany, Denmark, and Thailand, as well as artists from various cities in Turkiye, created a common production area with master potters invited from Menemen. The workshop was held with the participation of Sayumporn Kasornsuwn (Thailand), Chirayu Kumar Sinha (India), Marc Leuthold (USA), Maria Geszler Garzuly (Hungary), Reinhard Keitel (Germany), Rolando Giovannini (Italy), Luke Sheets (USA), Han Nguyen (Denmark), Reyaz Badaruddin (India), Shamai Sam Gibs (Israel) and Mustafa Agatekin, Elif Aydogdu Agatekin, Duygu Kahraman, Hasan Baskirkan, Irfan Aydin, Mehmet Cosar, Tevfik Turen Karagozoglu, Burak Tatar, Umit Koyman, Ibrahim Yildizbas, Serkan Emre Deniz and Huseyin Ucar.

Along with Mehmet Tuzum Kizilcan’s constant support for young people, the younger generation made significant contributions to this workshop, including Gülce Istif, Tugce Makarnaci, Sedat Cayir, Menekse Eda Ozturmen, Beyza Nur Macit, Emrehan Safak, Oktay Ide, and Muhammet Emir Tasdemir, who also participated with their works and assisted the artists.

Foundation’s President Naile Gocen Cukurova's strong support for the event significantly shaped the program's vision and contributed to the workshop's continued existence over the years. The workshop was organized within a comprehensive program curated and coordinated by Mehmet Tuzum Kizilcan. The diversity created by the collaborative work of artists and artisans strengthened the workshop's intercultural vision, enabling the combined experience of diverse technical, aesthetic, and formal approaches.

In addition to the production processes held throughout the day, artist presentations and talks each evening provided participants with the opportunity to share their artistic discourses and exchange ideas. In this respect, the workshop generated significant interest, providing a platform for intellectual exchange and discussion, in addition to the artistic forms and sculptures developed.

An opening exhibition was held at the Hilton Old Tanneries Complex, featuring ceramic panels designed around a maritime theme and the works brought by the artists. This thematic initiation brought a conceptual dimension to the production process and encouraged participants to create contemporary ceramic interpretations that engage with nature and the environment.

During the workshop, participants engaged in an intensive technical program encompassing various firing methods. Traditional and experimental techniques such as raku, smoked firing, milk firing, and luster firing were employed, providing each artist with the opportunity to share their shaping methods, material knowledge, and surface research. This technical diversity reinforced one of the workshop's primary goals: sharing knowledge and sharing production experience. The open-air location of the workshops, at the heart of the shaping process, also facilitated an intimate connection with the art audience.

A short workshop on the "ceramic in glass" method, which involves combining two different materials through heat treatment, by Prof. Mustafa Agatekin, a faculty member of Anadolu University's Glass Department, was met with great interest by artists.

As part of the program, excursions were organized to provide invited artists with a closer look at the cultural texture of the region; the workshop's interaction with the historical and geographical context was strengthened through visits to the Virgin Mary, Ephesus, and Sirince.

At the end of the workshop, all the works were presented to the public in a powerful closing exhibition at the Old Tanneries complex and surrounding exhibition spaces, repurposed by Goctur. The exhibition, by documenting the workshop process and bringing together the resulting works, plays a significant role in contributing to the field. The closing cocktail reception transformed the artists into a rich gathering where they shared their experiences of their production processes and engaged in direct communication with the audience.

In these respects, the 12th Mehmet Nuri Gocen Foundation International Ceramics Workshop goes beyond being an event showcasing individual creations; under the great dedication and leadership of Mehmet Tuzum Kizilcan, it is transforming into an international platform that emphasizes the importance of collective production, intercultural interaction, and artistic sharing in contemporary ceramic art. Curated by Tuzum Kizilcan, this workshop, which has produced over 1,000 works since its inception in 2013, stands out not only for its international context but also for its approach that promotes local production and integrates traditional pottery culture with contemporary ceramic art. Kizilcan's vision highlights the tradition of Menemen potters and, by connecting local knowledge with the international art community, makes a valuable contribution to the global ceramics discourse. The planned establishment of a museum within the Foundation in the future will significantly contribute to contemporary ceramic art beyond the national arena, also on an international level.