Three Women Potters in Iran: Issues of Art, Craft and Gender

Iran’s long history of pottery making goes back ten thousand years, and it is as diverse as
the country’s geography and ethnic composition. Clay as a material connects contemporary
Iranian society to its ancient roots, and it permeates daily life in terms of the economy,
technology and even gender roles. This presentation focuses on the lives of three women potters
in northern and western Iran, one in the village of Jirdeh Central Gillan province, another in the
village of khomar Mahaleh East Gillan, and the third outside of the City of Marand West
Azerbaijan province. Each woman represents a particular genre of handmade pottery from
functional to sculptural work, and she establishes a unique identity in terms of production,
commercial distribution and her personal relationship to the social and geographic environment.
A selection of interviews, photographs and video clips taken during the summer of 2012
illustrate how these women work and thrive in their leadership, independence and creative
artistry. Key concepts include: 1 Land place, home, 2 Technique and work process, 3 Gender
roles, 4 Tradition and why their works are considered traditional, and 5 Authenticity and what
makes their works authentic. The solitude that separates and yet connects these women offers a
contrast to the nature of ceramics in the contemporary art world of Tehran and also opens a
dialog for gender and feminist issues that are relevant to study of art technology, design and the
roles of women in Iranian society today.