Is a Thousand-Year-Old Ceramic Really More Valuable Than Contemporary Ceramics? with Julius

Imagine two objects placed side by side. One is an ancient Chinese ceramic made a thousand years ago, with no known maker and perhaps even a few cracks or chips. The other is a newly completed work by a contemporary artist, supported by a fully developed artistic concept. Which one is more valuable? The value of ancient Chinese ceramics is often determined by age, kiln, rarity, craftsmanship and provenance. Contemporary ceramics, meanwhile, may derive their value from the artist’s ideas, distinctive visual language, and recognition within the gallery and art-market system. Although both are made from clay, they may operate within two entirely different systems of value. In this episode, we move from the unpredictable glaze effects, crackled surfaces and imperfections of Song ceramics to contemporary artists who deliberately allow their works to collapse, crack or become distorted. Why is a crack in an ancient ceramic celebrated as “the beauty of age,” while the same feature in a contemporary work might be dismissed as poor craftsmanship? If we removed the museum labels and the artists’ names, could we still tell which object was more valuable? Perhaps the more interesting question is not whether ancient or contemporary ceramics are superior, but why we are so willing to embrace the imperfections of historical objects while struggling to accept those deliberately created by contemporary artists. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn