This year the pottery masters from Karacasu have made their mark on the Mehmet Nuri Gocen International Ceramic Workshop which’s held every year in Kusadasi. 30 contemporary ceramic artists participating the Symposium, has made a contribution for masters of traditional production to turn towards contemporary works.
Assoc. Prof. M. CANDAN GUNGOR
Organized by Mehmet Nuri Gocen Culture, Education and Art Foundation, the “9th Mehmet Nuri Gocen International Ceramic Workshop” is held between 22nd September – 2nd October 2022 in Pine Bay Village of Kusadasi. Also with the support of Kusadasi Municipality, 30 ceramic artist from 7 countries have participated in the workshop this year. In the workshop where Mehmet Tuzum Kizilcan has served as the curator, artists have carried out studies for 10 days in various locations in Kusadasi to bring out their works. There were Raku, Naked Raku, Sagar, Lustre and Copper Matte practices performed by the artists, each specialized in a different technique on ceramic firing. Artists have finalized their works with various different firing facilities.
Participated in the workshop this year were; Cho Kyungil, Shamai Sam Gibsh, Tania Punans, Angeliki Papadopoulou, David Jones, Kyung Hun Kong, Gregory Hamilton Miller, Jung Soon Shin, Osama Emam, Ofra Gaber Kutz, Sirin Kocak, Ozbilen Gokhol, Deniz Onur Erman, Melisa Engineri, Sercan Filiz, Hasan Sahbaz, Bugra Ozer, Tevfik Turen Karagozoglu, Umit Koyman, Kadircan Avcı, Eren Gozuyasli, Muhammet Emir Tasdemir, Ilhan Hayhat, Emre Aydos, Erhan Mizrak, Mert Yilmaz.
There were also the pottery masters coming from Karacasu among the participants of the workshop this year and they have produced the traditional forms of their regions. Master have also turned towards up to date contemporary works while they were milling their pots. Artists who came from abroad and gave shape in the potter’s wheel, have also made a contribution for the masters to turn towards contemporary works. In a sense, contemporary and traditional productions have been banded together.
At the end of the workshop that’s followed by art lovers with interest, a ceremony has been held to give artists their certificates of participation. Kusadasi Deputy Mayor Tibet Ozer, Chairman of Mehmet Nuri Gocen Culture, Education and Art Foundation Naile Gocen Cukurova and artists have attended the ceremony. Naile Gocen Cukurova said “Art is an important activity which beautifies and enriches life. With art, you find the opportunity to question and learn the different events in different cultures. And the best example of this is the artists coming from different nations of the world and being with us tonight” and Kusadasi Deputy Mayor Tibet Ozer thanked to those who set their heart on Cukurova and ceramic art for their contributions to the culture and art events made in Kusadasi.
In the closing ceremony held in Kusadasi Oldtown Tanneries, Kizilcan has first invited the masters of Karacasu to the stage and said “The most significant factor which makes our studies and works come to these days are the pottery artists who adopt the traditional methods”.
