Hello there, long time no blog...
Blame the humidity - we do!
These pretty pots, on display at Qld Art Gallery, are by Ai Wei Wei, China's most famous contemporary artist.
Aren't their shapes beautiful?
These pots are ancient, from the Neolithic period.
They are admired for their refined shape and elegant proportions.
We are told that thousands of them have been unearthed in China.
Ai Weiwei has performed a radical act, transforming the pots with modern polymer paint in sweet sugary colours. The meaning and value of the urns is transformed, and they are turned into contemporary works of art.
This subverts and disrupts the prevailing value system to which they previously belonged.
It took me a while to warm to this idea, due to an inbuilt reverence for any ancient artefact. But now I love them, for their beauty, and because they are now prized and cared for in a museum.
Do you like them?
A place for contemplation - a pool by the Gallery's cafe.
Last week we had State Government elections in Queensland.
This horse stood outside our polling booth.
I wonder how it feels about having a tree painted on, not to mention a green tail.
In news from the Sewing Cave, I have a new/vintage sewing station:
Beautiful timber, replacing the old desk I have used for years.
I think we will be very happy together.
It became necessary to put a new cover over my battered but sturdy and comfy chair. Now I have a daily reminder of the elegant fashions of a century ago.
Summer shows no sign of abating, meaning an injection of cool summer wear is required.
From the stash I found a piece of textured stretch something, and tried this pattern:
This is Vogue V1349, a Donna Karan design, designed for colour blocking or combined prints, but I was happy with solid blue. It came together really well, and required minimal alterations, which is a bonus for me.
A friend gave me this bracelet for Christmas...
and then there are those little blue sandals...
Our Peace rose produced this for us.
Just one, perfect bloom.
Have a wonderful weekend.
XXXX
I really love the brightly painted pots, so striking, but then I was shocked to discover that they are actually from the Neolithic period. Now I don't know what to think, although I love them, on balance I don't think that they should have been painted. Your Peace rose is gorgeous, I can almost smell it. The horse doesn't look too happy, but the green paint will wash out, won't it?
ReplyDeleteRosemary, I had exactly the same response when I first saw the painted pots - I was shocked and incredulous that this could happen. While they are really attractive, and I accept them, I would not like to think it was an ongoing practice. As the horse was an advertisement for the Greens party, one would think they would use environmentally acceptable paint :)
DeleteTrish, we've missed you! The pots are lovely, especially that red one pictured, and that pool by the gallery is great, what a nice place to "reflect". The dress idea is good. It's been a long time since I made something to wear.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda. Yes, the red pot is particularly striking, isn't it.
DeleteI have become more interested in dressmaking in the past few years, partly because there are some things I now cannot do as a result of surgery on my arm, and also because my body shape these days has no resemblance to anything available in the shops!
Happy to see your post. Beautiful pots, like you at first I shuddered at the idea they were painted. Then I considered, if thousands of pots were discovered it is reasonable for some few by comparison to be altered.
ReplyDeleteGreat blue dress and I really like the fabric you used to cover the chair.
Darla
Hello Darla. Glad you like the pots too, and let us hope only a few become painted, and thus a bit special, but that is where it stops.
DeleteIsn't the chair fabric nice - bought at the Spotlight 30% off sale :)
I felt the same as Darla when I saw the colored pots, but if there are thousands similar ones, these painted ones are a fun idea from the artist.
ReplyDeleteThe horse looks a bit lost, sigh. But he was surely taken care of before and after.
Your new dress looks good, the color, the shape!
So when are you expecting winter in Australia?
The pots do look fun, and contemporary, if we move on from their age. Perhaps they will inspire modern decorators. Yes, the horse did look slightly uncomfortable being used as an advertising device. I was offered the chance to be photographed with him, but to be honest I am a little afraid of horses, having had very little to do with them, and I declined (sorry!)
DeleteExpecting Winter? some years it only goes for 2-3 weeks, so it is hard to say. Generally speaking about the first week of June. If you blink you miss it, but when it comes, as I have reported before, sometimes we even get frost on the grass and ice on the cars!
The pots are interesting... and it does get you thinking about what makes something worth preserving v what is "valuable".....fascinating. Jx
ReplyDeleteYes, Janice, I think that is exactly why Ai Wei Wei does these things. He is of course a political dissident in China, and likes to make art which challenges our thinking. He recently had an exhibition in Blenheim Palace, but it finished in December.
DeleteI like the way that by taking away any other decoration all you concentrate on is the shape of the pots, and then it becomes about the object itself, not the decoration. Love your new dress! xx
ReplyDeleteWell put, Amy. The colour really does delineate the shape of these elegant pots, and they are placed near other ancient pots which are in their natural state. The contrast is striking!
DeleteGlad you like my 'nothing' dress! xx
I did wonder what was happening with you and surmised it was the weather affecting you. I do like your new dress - much nicer in a solid colour than colour blocked. Your new table looks accomodating and I do like your chair cover - maybe I should cover my old office chair, which is a shabby and well worn black, one day.
ReplyDeleteThank you for thinking of me - yes, the weather has been getting me down. But there is a breeze about, so much better days ahead. The new dress is going out happily over the weekend. Must admit my chair is also an old office chair, and the covering is done like a couch cover, draped over and tied in a knot underneath :)
DeleteHello Patricia,
ReplyDeleteWhilst we can see the powerful, subversive message in painting the ancient pots, we find it very disturbing. Well, of course, that is exactly what is the intention, we presume, but cannot feel that to mutilate these ancient artefacts in this way is acceptable. The colours are hauntingly beautiful and we should have loved them on contemporary sculptural pieces.
It is good to see you back in action here. We have missed you. We think that the blue dress and snazzy blue sandals are wonderful and, as we cannot thread a needle between the two of us, we are full of admiration that you made the dress yourself. Clever you!
Hello Jane and Lance, you sum up the dilemma of the pots very well; it seems we all find this idea disturbing, while appreciating the beauty of the pots. Let us hope this is a one-off event, and definitely does not start a trend in China.
DeleteBlue dress thanks you, and assures you it is having a wonderful time running about with snazzy sandals! Thank you for your insightful comment.
To begin with, those posts confused me. What you were saying din't quite add up with what I was looking at. Then of course it all made sense. After the initial confusion, I like what Ai Wei Wei has done. had to think about it for a minute though. Think if he'd had asked beforehand, I would have said no. But I like them, they work. You're doing well in that heat.
ReplyDeleteHello Katharine, I think the pots confuse the viewers in the gallery, too. There is something odd that strikes you first, before you begin to read the didactics. It seems we all agree that this is a subversive act, but the results are very interesting and attractive. Bit cooler this week, heavenly!
DeleteI do like the shape of those pots and your dress is lovely, I do envy your ability to make clothes. I can knit and crochet but sewing clothes is something else! Suzy x
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't knit or crotchet these days. At least I don't need warm socks and jumpers in this climate :) x
DeleteLove Ai Wei We....love the pots!!
ReplyDeleteThey are certainly very attractive pots, aren't they!? Ai Wei Wei is always coming up with something new and creative.
DeleteSuch lovely glimpses into your life my dear! I have great admiration for your sewing capabilities! I grew up sewing as my parents owned a fabric store … it has been years since I have sewn … but you have me thinking about it :))
ReplyDeleteWith your wonderful sense of style, Tamera, I would love to see what you would turn out if your decided to sew something! How exciting to have a family fabric store; I would want everything in sight!
DeleteFrom one (at present) intermittent blogger to another, I'm not surprised the weather has affected your impetus to blog, Patricia. I don't even have that excuse. ;) I'm glad to see you return with this colourful post, but I have to admit to being another who was shocked to read what Ai Weiwei had done to those ancient pots, though I think I can guess what drew him to do it.
ReplyDeleteYour blue dress is very smart and I hope the weather cools enough for you really to enjoy going out and about in it.
Hello Perpetua, sometimes I feel the heat turns my brain to mush. Never thought I'd come to regard a 32 deg day as cool!
ReplyDeleteAi Weiwei shocks us all, but now I have been eyeing off some of our grubby old terracotta pots, and considering wiping out the history with a coat of thick and colourful acrylic paint, he he
Blue dress is enjoying life!