Moldovan fine artist inaugurates pottery exhibition

Chisinau, 12 September /MOLDPRES/ - A pottery exhibition by fine artist Nicolae Cotofan was inaugurated at the National Art Museum today, on the occasion of the fine artist’s 80th birthday anniversary. 

The exhibition presents works of the artist’s collection, as well as of the heritage of Moldova’s National Art Museum.  

Contacted by MOLDPRES, the head of the Fine Artists Union of Moldova, Dumitru Bolboceanu, said that Nicolae Cotofan was one of the most important ceramists of Moldova. “He has a rich experience from the professional viewpoint, as well as from the exhibition-related one. He is a member of the generation of artists who completely changed the decorative arts of Moldova in the middle of the 1970s-1980s. This exhibition is just a small part of the artist’s works. Nicolae Cotofan participated in more exhibitions in Moldova and abroad, with his works mentioned with diplomas and prizes. There is an entire universe in each work. They are highly valuable art works,” Dumitru Bolboceanu stressed.      

In the context, the director of the National Art Museum, Tudor Zbarnea, said that Nicolae Cotofan was an artist of an overwhelming candor, with a special pottery and the PhD in the study of arts, Victoria Rocaciuc, noted that the ceramist was a “modern classic of the national pottery.”     

For his part, the son of Nicolae Cotofan, Sergiu Cotofan, said that the plates made by his father can be compared to “human beings wearing nice clothes.”        

Attending the event was also Deputy Parliament Speaker Monica Babuc.

The exhibition will be opened till 13 October.

Nicolae Cotofan was born in the Ordasei commune, Orhei county, on 21 October 1939. In 1957-1962, he studied at the Chisinau-based Alexandru Plamadeala  Republican College of Fine Arts. He debuted in 1964 with pottery works. Starting from 1967, he was titular member of the Fine Artists Union (UAP). On the period 1972-1987, Cotofan held the position of UAP deputy head and head of the Fine Artists’ Fund of UAP of Moldova. Beginning with 1964, he participated in numerous national and international exhibitions. Nicolae Cotofan was awarded the Labour Glory order (1981), Order of Honour (1986), Civic Merit medal (1996) and the honorific title of Art Master (2001).