Porcelain stories, Heinz Werner and Meissen

From August 30 to November 3, 2025, the Sen-Oku Hakukokan Museum Tokyo presents an exhibition dedicated to the art of Meissen porcelain manufacturing and, in particular, the work of Heinz Werner (1928 - 2019), a Master of contemporary porcelain. The exhibition explores Werner's innovative series - including Arabian Nights, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Baron Munchausen - revealing how he combined traditional techniques and narrative inspiration with a modern aesthetic. The exhibition also offers a prologue featuring selections of historic pieces from the company, tracing a common thread from Meissen's early development in the 18th century to its postwar experimentation. Werner's porcelains are characterized by refined finishes, decorations reminiscent of literary fables and symbolic stories, and an aesthetic that is meticulously crafted down to the smallest details. The exhibition, housed in the intimate spaces of the museum located in the Roppongi-Toranomon District, allows visitors to appreciate the Master's artisanal and narrative quality without chronological discontinuity. The exhibition is significant not only for the exceptional technical quality of the works on display, but also for the narrative value of the exhibition: each service and figure tells a story, recalling myths, literature, and dreamlike suggestions, while also testifying to the evolution of porcelain art in a global context. Furthermore, this is the first exhibition in Japan entirely dedicated to contemporary Meissen porcelain created by Heinz Werner, a precious opportunity to understand the dialogue between European tradition and modern aesthetic sensibility.