A tribute to Marie-Therese Coullery Yoshiaki Inui Meeting wonderful people is one of the happiest things in our life. It was such a favorable fate that I was lucky enough to get to know Ms. Marie-Therese Coullery. I remember the first time we met at a hotel in Kyoto. It was around 1974 or 1975. Ms.Coullery called me up and I headed to the hotel where she stayed. She welcomed me with full of smile and she was a kindhearted, portly lady like a housewife. Her character attracted me instantly on the very first moment when we met. Before that, she had already visited Japan for several times and she traveled many ceramic sites around the country. She had abundant knowledge about Japanese ancient ceramic art. At the same time, she had keen attention about Japanese contemporary ceramic art as well. I was greatly surprised, as she even knew the names of Japanese ceramic artist like Ryoji Koie, On our first-ever meeting, Ms.Coullery asked me to organize General Assembly in Japan. Before this time, General Assembly was held only within European countries. She said that she wanted Japan to be the first country to host General Assembly outside Europe. I was quite impressed with her passion and considerable feeling for Japan, which motivated me to attain the first General Assembly in Japan. Thanks to the support from many Japanese ceramic artists and many others, finally we reached to host General Assembly in Kyoto in 1980. Over 200 IAC members and others from overseas attended the meeting and as a result, the inaugural General Assembly in Japan was highly successful. This breakthrough led to activate intercommunication between Japanese and many ceramic artists around the world. In 1996, we hosted another General Assembly in Nagoya and Saga prefecture which was also successful. Many artists delighted themselves in learning and touching with Japanese ceramic culture and its art. Ms.Coullery was undoubtedly a motivating force behind these two successful achievement of General Assembly in Japan. I can still vividly recall her generous-hearted spirit and outstanding leadership. Apart from General Assembly occasions, Ms.Coullery visited Japan for several times and she enjoyed close friendships with Japanese ceramic artists and others. Her influence on today’s Japanese ceramic art was quite extensive and she taught me so many things about this art form. I had several chances to attend as a jury of Japanese ceramic exhibitions where her keen spirit and precise critical discernment about ceramic art always deeply impressed me. When Japanese contemporary art exhibition held in Geneva, I also impressed to know the fact that she kindly invites Japanese artists in her home in Geneva and she attentively took care of them. As a matter of course, she was generous person for many people, not only for Japanese. Through the IAC’s function and significance, quite simply she was a central character among the ceramist’s circle around the world. When I received word that she passed away, I had a indefinable sadness as if the circle’s string had broken and would never be the same as it was before. Even so, Ms.Coullery’s affectionate smile will remain in my mind forever. Yoshiaki Inui |
