Iranian artisans bag top prizes at Uzbekistan handicrafts festival
Iranian artisans Zahra Aslani and Karim Shirdareh Haghighi took home top awards at the third Kokand International Crafts Festival and the second International Festival of Handicrafts in the Uzbek ceramics hub of Rishtan.
Aslani, a potter from the north-western Iranian city of Ardabil, was named the festival’s “most skilled woman ceramist”, while Haghighi, a tile painter from Fars Province in southern Iran, secured second place among the world’s leading craftsmen, IRNA reported.
Both were recognized at the biennial gathering that ran from September 18 to 20 and drew delegates from more than 70 countries.
The Rishtan festival, regarded as one of the world’s foremost handicrafts events, is staged alongside the World Potters’ Congress in the centuries-old Uzbek town known for its ceramics. This year’s edition brought together over 250 international participants and some 400 local artisans, according to the organizers.
Aslani, attending the festival for the second time on an official invitation from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Culture, received a $1,500 award. Haghighi was handed a $1,000 prize for his painted tile work. Both artists described their recognition as a chance to showcase Iran’s “authentic traditions” on the global stage.
Recent projects have ranged from registering lands around Persepolis, the Achaemenid capital, to restoring the ancient Gorgan Wall and staging folk festivals in the Caspian province of Golestan.
Majid Salimi, head of handicrafts in Fars Province, said the success of Iranian artists in Uzbekistan “demonstrates their potential” and could open more doors for traditional crafts. “This platform gives us the chance to present our heritage to a wider audience,” he said.