Joint exhibition by the Japan Foundation and the Herend Porcelain Museum Foundation

• 10. August 2000. - 22. September 2000.

The history of Japanese pottery dates back more than 10,000 years. However, the art of pottery was closely related to intellectual culture, as well as the shaping of the material. The highest examples of this are the vessels used in the tea ceremony, which influenced decisively the development of ceramics for the table.

This exhibition, which has been touring Europe for some years, sets out to present traditional Japanese ceramics today. It returned to Hungary for the third occasion.

The art of modern ceramics in Japan consists essentially of the variety of individual forms of expression. The artists creating it use traditional techniques and strive to harmonize function and decoration.

To outsiders, all products made by Japanese potters seem fundamentally Japanese and traditional. In Japan, on the other hand, the ideals of adherence to traditional pottery are set by the endeavours that are manifest in the pieces shown at the Traditional Japanese Arts and Crafts Exhibition, which has been held annually since 1954. This covers traditional Japanese earthenware, as well as stoneware, fired at a higher temperature, and also celadon ware and white porcelain, which are of Chinese origin.