Tunisian handicrafts and ceramics are recognized around the world for their beauty and functionality.

These North African creations are generally passed down the generations and are regarded as heirlooms bringing great joy to Tunisian families who receive them.

To catch a small glimpse of their intrinsic beauty, the Tunisian Embassy organized a handicraft exhibition at the Seoul Tourism Organization office in Myeong-dong until Friday.

"If you want to enter Korean society you have to immerse yourself where the people go," Tunisian Ambassador Mustapha Khammari told The Korea Herald.

Tunisian pottery dates back thousands of years, with each region characterized over time through specific types of ceramics and influenced by past civilizations.

In Tunis, the nation`s capital, handicrafts trace their history to Punic, Arab and Andalus cultures while in Djerba, Berber, Greek and Roman influenced their creations.



In Korea, Myeong-dong attracts roughly 2 million visitors a day. For the ambassador, choosing the Seoul Tourism Office in the M-Town shopping building was a perfect fit.



"Sometimes we organize events at places that not many people can visit because of the complexity of the location but over here, it`s in the heart of one of the most popular shopping districts in Seoul," he said with a smile.

Khammari explained that he will organize more of these kinds of events not only in the big city but in other cities in the country.

"We need in our world, more occasions to present our way of life," he said. "Getting to learn someone`s culture is the best way of breaking down stereotypes."

"If you stay enclosed in your little world you can make mistakes and our world right now is filled with too many mistakes," he said.

While this exhibition is a cultural activity, the ambassador can also arrange, if businesspeople are interested, to meet with their counterparts in Tunisia to see about the ways these creature comforts can become a reality in local shopping malls.

There is also the possibility of organizing student exchanges to and from both countries.

In a world of continuous development, Tunisian handicrafts and more specifically ceramics, build on its prestigious past which is constantly renewed in prolific diversity.

For more information contact the embassy at (02) 790-4334.

(yoav@heraldm.com)



By Yoav Cerralbo