Raku - small prints of joy

The opening of the exhibition of the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts and students of the "Petar Lubarda" High School of Fine Arts from Cetinje, "Raku. Small prints of joy", will be held tonight at 20:30 pm in the Gallery "Risto Stijović" in Podgorica.

This is an exhibition of Raku ceramics, the origin of which "is linked to Japan and the time of the 16th century when, as part of the ceremonial tea utensils of Zen Buddhist masters, the first small vessels were made in this technique", according to the text of the art historian Milica Bezmarević for the catalog exhibitions.

Advisor to the Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Tecuja Tsubota, will open the artistic evening, and Bezmarević will also speak.

The exhibition is the result of the joint work of young artists who, through a series of educational and practical workshops in the last few months, perfected the technique of Raku ceramics, under the mentorship of Assoc. Dr. Ivana Radovanović and academic painter Darko Vučković, who are also the authors of the project.

"The word raku in the Japanese language means the concept of happiness, joy and enjoyment, and among raku masters there is a saying - 'Creativity, knowledge, experience are necessary for the successful performance of a ceramic object, but Luck is indispensable'. Observing the work of the participants Wabi Sabi tea parties/ Raku ceramics workshops under the mentorship of Ivana Radovanović and Darko Vučković, a strong impression remains that all these young artists really had those necessary moments of happiness during the multi-week process of socializing, learning and making raku ceramics. In all these created objects, of different shapes and appearances, which are unique in their plastic execution, there is a complete and palpable energy of shared joy," Bezmarević states in the text.

Radovanović's press release states that this initiative contributes to the popularization of the Japanese Raku technique, combining art and utility, "and the works that will be exhibited bring specific, unrepeatable effects created through the ceramic firing process."

The exhibition is part of the "Days of Japan" program and is held as part of the December Days of Culture, and is supported by the Secretariat for Culture in Podgorica through a public competition, the Embassy of Japan, and the JU Museums and Galleries of Podgorica.

"At the same time, we invite you to support all the students together on Friday in front of the 'Slobodan Škerović' gymnasium, to support them in the fight against violence and encourage them to think and speak freely and fight for a better society!", the statement added.