AMMAN — Pottery rooted in an ancient Mexican tradition is now on display in Amman, as the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (JNGFA) on Tuesday opened an exhibition of contemporary pottery from the village of Mata Ortiz, Mexico, under the patronage of HRH Princess Wijdan Al Hashimi.

 

The exhibition, “Tales in Clay: From Mexico to Jordan / Mata Ortiz: Modern Artistry Crossing Ancient Cultures,” is organised by the Mexican embassy in cooperation with the JNGFA.

 

It features 22 handcrafted pottery pieces by master artisans from Mata Ortiz, a village in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua.

 

The works represent three generations of artists who revived techniques inspired by the ancient Paquimé culture.

 

The revival of the Mata Ortiz pottery tradition is linked to Juan Quezada, who in the mid-1970s began restoring these ancestral techniques. His efforts helped establish Mata Ortiz as an internationally recognised centre for contemporary pottery.

 

The exhibition brings together works by leading Mata Ortiz artists, including Ángel César Bugarini Soto, Laura Bugarini, Paula Gallegos Bugarini, Héctor Gallegos Jr., Karla López Cota, Luly Lucero, Betty Quezada, Israel Sandoval, Laura Janet Silveira Pedregón, Tavo Silveira Sandoval and Elfida Tena Muñoz.

 

Their pieces reflect a contemporary approach to pottery while maintaining visual links to ancestral Paquimé designs.

 

Speaking during the opening, Mexican Ambassador Jacob Prado said that the exhibition coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Jordan and Mexico

 

He said that the exhibition offers an opportunity to boost cultural cooperation and introduce Jordanian audiences to Mexico’s rich artistic traditions.

 

Mexican master artisan Héctor Gallegos Jr., visiting the Middle East for the first time, told The Jordan Times that the response from Jordanian visitors had exceeded expectations.

 

“We did not expect such a large number of people to be interested in our pottery, or in their desire to learn more about Mexico,” he said.

 

Asked about similarities between Mexican and Jordanian pottery traditions, Gallegos pointed to the shared history of ceramics across cultures.

 

“Pottery as an art form around the world shares many similarities. It is an art that has existed for thousands of years, and we always find certain common elements among different cultures,” he said.

 

He added that the Jordanian landscape felt familiar to him and his colleagues.

 

“This region of Jordan is very similar to the geographical area where we live, and therefore we truly feel as if we are at home.”

 

The opening was attended by Princess Wijdan, JNGFA Director Khaled Khreis, representatives from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, members of the diplomatic corps, artists, university faculty and students, and members of the public.

 

“Tales in Clay: From Mexico to Jordan” will run until January 20, at the JNGFA (Building 2). The exhibition is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm, except Fridays and official holidays.