Jack Whitten's Process | MOMA Video

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Stanley Whitney and Inside the Collection at Walker Art Center | Video

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Persian Ceramics

 

Over the past five years, I’ve come to appreciate Persian ceramics, especially those from Nishapur in North-eastern Iran. The last time I was at the Met, I sought out examples of these works, and now, each time I venture to a major museum, they make their way to my list of things to see.

After doing a bit of research on the Nishapur excavations (and buying a few books), I learned that since it was a major site of production over an extended period of time, the ceramics found there show stages of progression from an ancient craft in its infancy, to later pieces showing more complexity and refinement of execution. There is also a diversity of style and decoration—a stunning variety, some of which seem rudimentary and minimal, and others which are opulent with precision detail.

But specifically, it’s the glazes of Persian ceramics that I’m drawn to—just looking at ceramic glazing is something that seems to feed my own painting practice. What I’ve found with the Nishapur pieces are curious surface activities ranging from watery passages to charming linework, bold calligraphy and simplified forms floating in space, and unexpected pleasing one-offs resulting from kiln firing irregularities, etc. Certain color benchmarks are inherent to this work, especially the deep blues and metallic lustres, which show the depth of knowledge these ancient potters had, since glazed ceramic was essentially a form of painting for their time.

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Ancestral Color Recipes

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