The first workshop on wickerwork methods and techniques is being held in cooperation with the World Crafts Council in several provinces across Iran where Chinese masters are teaching the art and craft.
“The workshop is held in cooperation with the World Craft Council Asia and Oceania Region. We asked some Chinese masters of wickerwork to come over and conduct a training workshop,” Ali Haji Shizrey, the general manger for handicrafts development and promotion at Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization told Mehr News Agency on Tuesday.
Commenting on the need for help from Chinese masters, Haji Shizrey said, “They have expertise in modern methods and techniques related to weaving wicker and bamboo works. Besides, we are not very familiar how to process and prepare the natural materials.”
The workshops deal also in sharing experience and advancing the professional knowledge of wicker weavers in the country. “Artisans need to get familiar with all stages of the art from processing the material to design and production. They also need to learn the skills to find faults in their own works and fix them.”
He said the first workshops were held in Gilan Province. “We have spread the program across several provinces. Artists from Golestan, Mazandaran, West Azarbaijan and Hamedan provinces took part in the Gilan workshop held on November 25.”
At each workshop, 25 artisans attend to learn the techniques of wickerwork. The Chinese know over 300 types of weaving.
As per the ICHJHTO program, workshops will be held in Boushehr and Hormuzgan provinces on December 2 and December 7.
