The human experience is expressed most intimately through the world of art. This has never been so true as it is today when we live in an increasingly global community where it is possible to appreciate cultural artifacts, inventions and lifestyles with wide ranging socio-historical significance.

The "Art of Life" sub-theme was created for Expo 2005 so that participants and visitors to the World’s Fair in Seto, Japan will be able to develop a deeper appreciation for multi-cultural life-styles. A human interface for arts, technology, and science has been envisioned as a natural experience based on the sharing and networking of different bases of cultural information.

Seto, Japan could not be more of a perfect place for an experience of this magnitude. Seto has a 1300 year history of producing practical everyday pottery and exquisite works of art that are prized around the world. This is a city surrounded by beautiful forested hillsides and is often referred to as the "global mecca" of ceramic crafts - an excellent example of combining art with science and technology.

The World Ceramic Art Village is being built on the grounds of Expo 2005 in Seto City to provide a forum for artisans from around the world. It is an international center located in a setting where local people have been perfecting the science of balancing resource extraction (high quality porcelain clay) and energy consumption with the demands of a mass-consumption society.

World Ceramic Art Village -Quick Overview:

Ceramic Art Study and Research Center

Rental studios & Ceramic art seminars.

Participatory Outdoor Exhibits

Reproductions of kiln sites from major ceramic producing areas worldwide.

Firing using old Seto kilns.

International Ceramic Art Village

Studio-equipped residents.

Experimental Studio(Workshops).

Japanese tearoom.

Ceramics Museum

Exhibition of production tools and processes from and ethnic perspective.

Exhibition of exceptional, artistic pieces from around the world.

Lessons to be learned

There are lessons to be learned as a new respect for nature and cultural expression develops on a global stage. For example, the ceramic artisans of Seto are well aware that clear-cutting the forest to heat wood burning kilns is no longer sustainable, even though global demands for their products has traditionally led to this practice.

Resourceful demonstrations of art, science, and technology will contribute to a better understanding of the Expo 2005 overlying theme: "Nature’s Wisdom." The World Ceramic Art Village will provide a place of inspiration and experimentation for new arts and technologies that respect this evolving world theme.