Continuing Education

This course will map a line of development through multiple, interconnected ceramics movements from the mid-19th century to the present. The focal point in this exploration is Mingei-a Japanese folk-craft movement that began in the 1920s. The ideas of Mingei have been taken up by artists around the world, especially those working in clay. By the late 20th century, Mingei had become such an established tradition that new movements emerged as reactions against it. This course will examine the interwoven modern history of East Asian and Anglophone artistic traditions. We will start by tracing the origins of Mingei in industrial Britain and feudal Korea, before delving into an understanding of Mingei itself. We'll then track Mingei's influence forward in time, to an ongoing dialogue among artists in the US, the UK, back to Japan and across the globe. Throughout, we'll keep a focus on functional clay pottery, while continually engaging with the uselessness of art, and maintaining a critical eye on the ideological role of orientalism and nationalism.
Note: This course is held on campus at SVA.