Maghsoud Pashaei

Maghsoud Pashaei (Persian: مقصود پاشایی‎, MaQsood pAšAee; born October 03, 1934) is the Iranian ceramics and pottery artist. Some of his masterpieces have been presented to the foreign leaders, ambassadors and ministers by the then Iranian presidents Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Seyyed Mohammad Khatami. His works have been exhibited in many cities across the world, including Paris, London, and Lahore etc. Some of his works are also kept as national treasure in the domestic museums. He was awarded the senior art award in pottery and ceramics in 1997.
== Life ==
His father, Abolfazl Pashaei, was a prominent tile maker and ceramist and he had a workshop in the Dashchilar Neighborhood. In addition to making tiles, he customized pottery on demand and sold them in the market. Maghsoud was the elder child of the family. When he was 6, his father allowed him to enter the workshop and from then on, he started learning and working at the workshop after school. He was trained and worked in his father's workshop for 25 years and learned all pottery techniques. He moved to Tehran in 1964 and was inducted by the Fine Arts Department located on Baharestan Square. The then president of the department was Mahdi Zavare'i, who inducted Maghsoud by a decree, without fulfilling the military duty. In the first years, at his request, he taught at the Institute of Technology of Silicate Industries for 6 years and taught art to numerous apprentices. After the Iranian Revolution and the establishment of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, he was transferred to the Cultural Heritage Organization along with other staff at the former Fine Arts Department. Since 1985, he took charge of the tile and ceramics workshop of the organization which was the major workshop there and he remained in the position to the end of his official activity. He taught at many universities for 36 years in addition to his responsibilities at the organization and the workshop. Some of the universities he taught in include Al-Zahra University, University of Arts, University of Tehran Faculty, Cultural Heritage Faculty, Traditional Arts Center of Niavaran Museum, Soore University and Tabriz University of Arts. In 1997, he was awarded the senior art award (considered equivalent to the PhD) in pottery and ceramics by the official decree of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Numerous domestic and foreign exhibitions of his works have been held individually and in groups, which have always been welcomed by athletes, artists as well as artistic, cultural and political figures, which have brought him numerous awards and commendations. The works of art created by Master Pashaei during his activity in the Cultural Heritage Organization are regarded as national treasure and kept at major domestic museums as national heritage.
== Style ==
He uses traditional potter's wheel and makes embossed inscriptions. His adherence to the classic form of pottery and his special delicacy has created a special school and he is known as the reference and founder of this school. He has abundantly used visual elements in his works. His works are inspired by Persian literature, the Qur'an, Shahnameh, potteries found in archaeological excavations as well as his imagination. Ata'ollah Mohajerani, the then minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance awarded him a decree and praised him for the revival of pottery and ceramics art.
== Works, Activities and Awards ==
* 1971: Group construction of grilles for Azadi Tower (Azadi Square)
* 1975-1978: Entry portal inscription of amphitheater in the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies written by Mohammad Ehsaei and embossing it on pottery with an area of 450 m2
* 1985-1987: Entry portal inscription of Museum of Ancient Iran, written by Mohammad Ehsaei incised as embossed pattern on a 9×80 cm pottery
* 1986: Logo inscription of Cultural Heritage Organization, by Mohammad Ehsaei, implemented as embossed pattern on pottery (mounted on the north side wall of the citadel of the Cultural Heritage Organization, Azadi St., Tehran)
* 1987: Grand inscription of Iranian Embassy in Abu Dhabi by Mohammad Ehsaei, and implementing it as an embossed pattern with an area of 230 m2
* 1993-1994: Moulage made from ancient samples of the National Museum of Iran to the order of Presidential Administration of Islamic Republic of Iran.
* 1993: Plaque of Appreciation for participating in the International Exhibition of Al-Ghadir Congress in the United Kingdom
* 1994: Certificate of Appreciation as member of the jury of the first exhibition of works by Iranian women artists
* 1994: Honorary Diploma for participating in Pakistan Exhibition
* 1997: Senior Art Badge (equivalent to a PhD in art) from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance in pottery and ceramics
* 1997: Plaque of Appreciation from mr Kazerooni, the then president of Cultural Heritage Organization
* 1999: Plaque of Appreciation from the then Iranian president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
* 2000: Plaque of Appreciation from Ata'ollah Mohajerani, the then minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance for his efforts to revive the Iranian pottery and cultural heritage.
* 2000: Award and Plaque of Appreciation as the senior in pottery and ceramics art on the World Handicraft Day from the University of Arts
* 2000-present: Permanent member of Artists Evaluation Council in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance
* 2001: Plaque of Appreciation from Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti Shirazi, the then president of the Cultural Heritage Organization for his relentless efforts in arts
* 2000: Plaque of Appreciation and the ministrant badge of the Qur'an from the Qur'an Exhibition and the special award from the then president, Seyyed Mohammad Khatami
* 2001: Award and Plaque of Appreciation as the senior ceramist on the World Handicraft Day from the University of Arts
* 2001: Award and Plaque of Appreciation as the senior ceramist on the World Handicraft Day from Arasbaran Cultural Center
* 2013: Badge of Homay-e Honar from the then vice president, Mohammad Ali Najafi, for relentless efforts and creating eternal works
* 2014: The Eternal Figure of Ardabil Province
== Exhibitions and Museums ==
His masterpieces have been exhibited in solo and group domestic and international fairs and exhibitions during the years of working in the Cultural Heritage Organization.
Some of these major exhibitions include the London Exhibition in 1993, the Paris Exhibition in 1991 and the Lahore Exhibition in 1994, etc. During his work in the Cultural Heritage Organization, his works have been recognized as national treasure, and they were registered and kept in major domestic museums. Azadi Museum (Azadi Tower): 20 works Museum of National Arts: 12 works Sa'd Abad Water Museum Isfahan Museum of Decorative Arts
== Books, Magazines and Movies ==
Many interviews are available with Master Pashaei which have been broadcast from various TV channels or published in assorted journals. Numerous biographies are available on Master Pashaei and other artists as an encyclopedia which have been developed and provided by the research center of the Cultural Heritage Organization, the National Museum and other institutions. Recently, a 49-minute documentary movie is produced under the title of "the Master of Soil" by Sabalan TV channel of Ardabil which has been broadcast several times from this channel and the national TV 4rd channel. One of his interviews entitled "Manifestations of Pottery on Soil" was published in Mah-e Honar Monthly by Abbas Sharifi Narani.
==References==
==External links==
* Official website
* 
* 
Category:University of Tehran faculty
Category:1934 births
Category:Living people
Category:Recipients of the Order of Culture and Art
Category:Pottery artist
Category:Iranian Pottery artist
Category:Iranian ceramics and pottery artist