Japanese lusterware ceramics embellish National Museum of Iran

TEHRAN,July 6(MNA) – Works by Kobe Kato and his father Takuo Kato (1917-2005), the Japanese artists who introduced Persian-style lusterware to Japan, were put on display in an exhibition at the National Museum of Iran (NMI) during a ceremony on Thursday. Kobe, a group of 30 Japanese artists, Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda, NMI Director Asadollah Mohammadpur and a number of Iranian artists attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition entitled “Lusterware Ceramics from Past to Present”, the NMI announced in a press release on Friday. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mohammadpur said that Takuo Kato along with other Iranian ceramists had a major role in introducing Persian lusterware. The ambassador regarded the exhibit as a sign of good relations between Iran and Japan, and expressed hope that the exhibit would lead to more cooperation between the two countries. Kobe Kato regarded the exhibit in Iran as one of the best events that has happened in his life. He said that Persian lusterware is one of the highlights of Persian art and that his father made great efforts to revive this technique. He added that the exhibit has created a good chance for him to get to know Iranian ceramicists and will provide the chance for him to exchange views with them. Director of the Association of Iranian Ceramists Behzad Ajdari also present at the ceremony regarded the exhibit as the best chance to once again concentrate on Persian ceramics. In addition, a collection of works by 10 Iranian ceramists are on show on the sidelines of the exhibit. Several workshops and meetings have also been arranged during the exhibit running until July 24. Born in 1917, Takuo Kato studied ancient Persian ceramics. He restored lusterwares and Persian colored ceramics for which he won an award from the Japan Ceramic Society in 1991. He passed away in 2005. Kobei (1945) is the son of Takuo and follows his father’s style of pottery making. The exhibit has been organized by the National Museum of Iran in collaboration with the Association of Iranian Ceramists and the Embassy of Japan.