ARTbreak: Contemporary Ceramics and the Chinese Worldview with Dr. Andrew Maske

China is the origin of most of the world’s most important historical ceramic advancements. Blessed with a wide range of outstanding raw materials, Chinese craftspeople developed the technical abilities to produce beautiful functional ceramics that were prized around the world. Beginning in the 19th century, however, Chinese dominance in ceramics was challenged by advancements in countries in Asia and Europe.

In the last 20 years, Chinese ceramics makers began to regain a bit of the luster lost over the previous two centuries. Innovative ceramic artists like Li Hongwei are exploring new modes of expression that not only break fresh ground but make connections to Chinese culture that are evocative and meaningful. This talk will examine some of the themes that can be found in the works of Li Hongwei and other contemporary Chinese ceramic artists.

Dr. Andrew Maske specializes in the arts of Asia, focusing especially on ceramic art in Japan from the sixteenth century to the present. He is a professor of art history at Wayne State
University.