IAC Conference in Portugal 2024

I was at the 51st Congress of the IAC International Academy of Ceramics in Caldas da Rainha and Alcobaca in Portugal from September 12 - 24 with about 300 people from 50 nations. It’s all about ceramics, members meeting, presentations, lectures and exhibitions. Before and after the conference was a pre-tour south of Caldas da Rainha and after-tour north of Caldas da Rainha, which I both joined. It was about Portugese culture and ceramics and especially the tiles: Azelujos!! And don’t forget the delicious cultivated wines in Portugal.

Alcobaca

4 days of meetings and presentations

Lots of members

Manu, many beautiful tiles!

Many, many potters and their art.

Small figurine. So many!

Many beautiful churches.

Roman temple of Diana.

Castle with bull riding ring.

Pot Museum

Tiled church outside and in.

The IAC/AIC Conference in Geneva Switzerland from Sept 11 - Sept 20, 2022.

This September, I participated in the International Academy of Ceramics (AIC/IAC) 50th congress, "Melting Pot", in the field of ceramics today and will discus questions of identity and interaction from Sept. 12-20, 2022, held in the International Conference Center (CICG), Geneva, Switzerland. We were altogether around 300 people from 77 countries. The International Academy of Ceramics is the principal organization representing the interests of ceramists worldwide.

The 5-day program will consist of professional and academic lectures given by specialists in various fields related to the theme, debate sessions, the opening night of the international exhibition at the Ariana Museum, inaugurations and visits to exhibitions.

Fountain in the Lac Leman in Geneva.

The “L’ecole des Arts Decoratifs” the ceramic direction I attended for 2 years in Geneva. It’s now called ”Haute Ecole des Arts Decoratifs”.

The “Mont Blanc” from across the lake.

New members announcement on a tv screen.

The first two days were filled with keynote and member lectures.
On the first night, there were three exhibition openings at the Ariana Museum , the only museum in Switzerland devoted entirely to kilncraft and so filled with worldwide ceramics and glass. Along with some excellent conference presentations, we enjoyed festivities in this museum.
On the second night we visited galleries and museum in the heart of Geneva’s Old Town.

Inside the Ariana Museum.

Opening of the exhibition in the Ariana Museum.

At the Ariana Museum.

A beautiful plate at the Arian Museum.

I received my acceptance diploma: a welcome as a new member in the IAC/AIC.

On Wednesday the General Assembly was held with a visit to the Palais des Nations (United Nations) in the afternoon with two exhibition openings. In the evening it was UNESCO night.

Visiting the United Nations.

Plate exposition at the United Nations.

The United Nations: 179 flags/nations.

Installation exposition at the United Nations.

General Assembly.

Broken Leg Chair in front of United Nations symbolizing both fragility and strength, imbalance and stability, violence and dignity.

The next day we had a bus excursion. It included the opening reception of the 1st half of the exhibition of, "Melting Pot: National SwissCeramics", at the Museum of Art and History of Neuchâtel (MahN). Then, a guided tour at La Ferme des Tilleuls, Renens: “Materia”. Finally, the exhibition opening at the Château de Nyon: “Melting Pot: Swissceramics National Exhibition” (2nd part) with dinner at the chateau. The view from the chateau was spectacular.

Inside hall staircase MahN Museum.

Opening exposition at Mahn Museum.

One of the many art works.

Aline Favre: She was my teacher at the L’ecole des Arts Decoratifs and many more art works.

Artist Danielle.

La Ferme des Tilleuls: artist Danielle.

One of many artworks: Art work from Claudia at the chateau.

View from the Chateau de Nyon.

Many teapots from one artist.

We had round table discussions on Friday morning and the afternoon was free to visit galleries.
The closing dinner of the 50th IAC Congress at the Institut Florimont on Friday evening was a huge success: well attended with good food and dancing.

All day Saturday many galleries throughout the city, especially Carouge, exhibited a variety of ceramics with receptions with exhibition openings that various groups visited on a walking tours. Overall, there were more than 30 exhibitions in national and private museums, art galleries and historical or contemporary institutions.

One art work I liked at one of the expositions at Carouge.

One art work I liked at one of the expositions at Carouge.

One art work I liked at one of the expositions at Carouge.

“Bling Bling” exposition at Carouge: Zuckerberg, Musk, Bezos by Stephanie.

“Bling, Bling” Exposition

“Bling Bling” exposition at Carouge: Shamai

“Bling Bling” exposition at Carouge

On Monday, Sept. 19, there was an all day excursion provided by SwissCeramics. It included 25 people, who took advantage of the opportunity to visit outside Geneva. We visited museums and galleries in Yverdons-les Bains and Prangins, plus enjoyed a delightful lunch and dinner together.

I had a great time and was glad to be back in Switzerland after 45 years. It was wonderful to see many ceramist friends from around the world.

On our way to Neuchatel.

Chateau d’Echandens, the village in lived in.

On our way.

48th International Academy of Ceramics in Taiwan.

Today September 30, 2018 is the opening of the 48th International Academy of Ceramics in Taiwan.
I flew there yesterday straight from Amsterdam.

I met already some friends.
The conference was opened by the Mayor of Taipei City.
Then the Director of the National Museum of History Liao, Hsin-tien gave the keynote speech about that art can express better what is difficult to say in words: West wind blowing to the East: The “Re-Orientalization”.

Conference logo

Introduction by Mayor of Taipei City

Discussion about the topic of the conference with the president of the IAC Jaques Kaufmann.

Explanation of the conference.

In the afternoon we went to the city Yingge where they have the Yingge Ceramics Museum. It showed the wonderful works of the member of the AIC. The museum’s permanent collection showed the history of ceramics in Taiwan. Then we walked through the ceramics park with many ceramic works to the building where they offer the residency program and saw the great studios and spaces where you can do your research work for about 2 months.

Member art work by Shamai Gibsh.

Artwork in Yingge Ceramic Park.

Explanation of the Member exhibition of the IAC at the Yingge Ceramics Art Museum and Center.

Opening ceremonie in the evening of the IAC Conference.

In the evening we had a great party and the IAC new member ceremony.

Day 2 started with 2 special lectures.
The 1st one was a discussion with 2 famous artist Yasuo Hayashi and Yang Yuan-tai during which there was a slide show from their works.
The 2nd lecture was by Nara Yoshitomo about his artworks: painting and clay.

Talk with Yasuo Hayashi and Nara Yoshitomo.

The exposition at the National Taiwan University of Arts.

Beautiful forest artwork.

A beautiful porcelain vessel.

Another beautiful artwork.

In the afternoon we did go to the National Taiwan University of Arts where they had a created a special exhibition from Taiwanese artist for our conference. It was beautiful.

After that we drove to the Farglory Museum with the Golden Teapot Exhibition. So many teapots: so interesting and beautiful.

Evelyne Schoenmann’s teapot! Congratulations!

Love this teapot.

Another nice teapot.

The Last Day of the Exposition of Bottles and Boxes in Vichte Belgium Sept 10

Still quite some people came to the exposition. We had some good conversations and last exchanges. 
It was wonderful to get to know so many artists from all over the world!!!
 

With Petra Lindenbauer from Austria.

One of my bottles.

The organizers of the exposition and conference: Lou Smedts, Gerda Genijn, Els Janssens, Chris Prinsen and Alvin Tan Teck Heng.

In the evening we had a farewell dinner. We had a wonderful time with some good food, music and songs!!

Song by Jan, Marta, Alvin and Miguel for Lou.                                                            

Marta Mugardes sings a song from Any Weinhaus.

https://www.facebook.com/yeungyl/videos/10213905148520054/

Applauding for the performance.

All watching Jan play.

Jan singing and playing on the guitar.

I stayed in a Bed and Breakfast "De Dulle Koe". It was a wonderful new clean place and a very nice young couple Sybren and Celine taking care. Some animals roamed around on the farm and the mooing of the cow was my alarm clock in the morning! 

The hen and her chicks just some hours old.

De Dulle Koe

Another relaxed day of exposition lectures and connecting on Sept. 9.

Lectures from several artist from Austria: Petra Lindenbauer, South Africa: Blayne Knox and Taiwan: Ming-Wen Lin and Shu Ling Wu.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a carousel of pictures!!!!

With Nora Van Driessche from Belgium.

Dinner with Yvetti van den Berg from Netherlands, Martina Dielen from Netherlands, Yocelyne Blanchard from Canada, Karen Loader from South Africa and Monique Braune from Canada.

With Lou Smedts the organizer of the whole exhibition, congress and International Ceramic Art Project.

With Alvin Tan Teck Heng during Taiwanese tea ceremony presented by Kun-Chen Tsai

A nice Expo day in Vichte in the "Old Church" and tea ceremony by Kun-Chen Tsai of Taiwan on Sept 8.

Yesterday, the exposition was open again. It was a relaxed day with visitors, lectures and movies.
And the tea ceremony of Kun-Chen Tsai of Taiwan.


CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a carousel of pictures!!!!

Presentation by Karen Loader

The lecture of Karen Loader. She is from the UK but lives at the moment in South Africa. Her art work is inspired by nature which is her profession as botanist.

To a Brickyard Museum and a Beer Brewery on Sept 7

We left early in the morning to go to the Boom Brickyard Museum in the Rupelstreek.
The Romans introduced the ceramics for making roof tiles and bricks in Belgium but it got lost when the Roman Empire perished. Only in the 13th century, with the start of the monasteries the firing of bricks and roof tiles revived until this day. There is a huge clay deposit because of the big river de Schelde. Clay is gathered and processed, formed, dried and fired. There are different kind of clays: for the flower pots it is quite course; for the roof tiles less course and for the floor tiles clay with high plasticity and hardly no pores is used. There were many, many factories!

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a carousel of pictures!!!!

During midday we drove to Brewery "The Anker" in the city Mechelen. There are many beer breweries in Belgium for which they are well-known.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a carousel of pictures!!!!

To Oostende on the beach on Sept 6

Some artists had left because of other commitments in life. With still a big group left we went with a tour bus to Oostende, a city near the beach. Fortunately, it did rain during the lunch what we enjoyed in a beautiful old hotel palace! Then we went out and enjoyed the beach, sea and walking around. 

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT: it is a caroussel of pictures!!!!

Visiting Brugge on Sept 5 with the congress C.A.P. group

Yesterday we did go on a bus to Brugge, a beautiful town with lots of Medieval houses from 1200-1500. It was an bustling international city with around 45.000 people living in it. Now there are about 20.000 people living in the city. And a very nice way to get to know each other better.

Gerda Genijn made a beautiful video of the day!

https://www.facebook.com/gerda.genijn/videos/1124598104307150/