Ceramic art in Saale-Unstrut: Tradition meets modern raku!

Ceramic art in Saale-Unstrut: Tradition meets modern raku!

Bürgel, Deutschland - The pottery and ceramic craft has a history of over 7000 years in Germany, and this tradition is now being honored in a special way. This year the craft was included in the nationwide list of the intangible cultural heritage of the German UNESCO Commission. This award underlines the cultural importance of the pottery in Germany, especially in the Saale-Unstrut region, which is known for its rich sound deposits and lively pottery tradition.

In the Saale-Unstrut region, the ceramic museum Bürgel, which was founded in 1880, has an important role. It shows the development of the Bürgel pottery from the 17th century to the present. The anniversary show "35 years of Thuringian potter's memory" can currently be seen until August and offers demonstrations on historical pottery techniques.

tradition meets modern

The potter's round path in Bürgel leads visitors through studios and workshops, which present the manual ability and the creative diversity of the potter's craft. In Dornburg an der Saale is the last authentic ceramic workshop of the Bauhaus, operated by Ulrich Körting. In this context, the special exhibition "Island of the Self-Brötler. The Bauhaus in Dornburg 1920-1925" can also be seen until August 10th.

In addition to the traditional aspects of the potter's crafts, raku ceramics is becoming increasingly popular. This special type of pottery originally comes from Japan, where it is mainly used in the tea ceremony. The raku ceramic is characterized by its unique burning technique, in which often no pottery disc is used. Each piece is therefore unique, which makes the irregular shapes and so -called "imperfections" particularly valuable.

market highlights and workshops

In connection with RAKU technology, various ceramic markets take place in the region. So the Bürgel pottery market on 21/22. June awaited with around 100 ceramics from Germany and Europe. Also the Jena pottery market on 26/27. July, with over 60 pots and demonstrations on Raku burning technology, promises exciting insights into this art form. On 30./31. August is followed by the pottery market in Naumburg, which offers a creative framework for visitors as part of these summer months.

In addition, pottery Jaqueline Riedel organizes workshops and raku events at her Töpferhof in Weißenfels. The next dates are on June 7, September 20 and November 1. These events offer an excellent opportunity not only to try out the technology yourself, but also to learn more about the philosophy behind the Raku ceramics. The term "raku", which means "enjoyment" or "joy", has a deep connection to the Japanese tea culture in which raku ceramics represent an important art form.

The Raku ceramics includes both traditional Japanese and the western variant created in the 20th century. Historical pieces achieve high prices on the international art market, while modern raku variations are exhibited by artists in museums and galleries. A characteristic of these ceramics are the special glazes in black or red, which often show strong contrasts between light and dark elements.

Overall, the lively pottery tradition in Saale-Unstrut not only reflects the artisanal art, but also a deep cultural exchange that is inspired by the centuries-old history of Raku ceramics. The region enriches the appreciation for ceramics from all over the world and thus invites visitors to learn more about this fascinating art form.

For more information you can do the articles on revista.de and Japanwelt.de Visit.