Just when you thought you’d seen everything, you know what I mean? Derivatives of derivatives of original artwork, materials driven artwork, Abstract Expressionist wanna-bes, etc., you go the The Everson Museum of Art (401 Harrison Street, Syracuse, New York 13202) and this happens…
…and it is AMAZING!
Laurent Craste is exhibiting his historically accurate vessels, which have been displayed with weapons that have seemingly destroyed them. The juxtaposition of the delicate gold fleur-de-lis patterned porcelain attacked by actual baseball bats, axes, arrows and the like, is jarring. It’s just the oddest thing and yet it speaks to the anger that peasants of the past had towards their regal governments. I guess your reaction will depend on which of the two factions you associate with – are you a have or a have not???
It’s fascinating, intriguing…and beautiful!
from www.everson.org
Iconoclasts
Iconoclasts marks the American museum debut for French-born Canadian ceramist Laurent Craste. Over the past decade, Craste has committed a wide range of indignities and abuse against his ornate vases and urns, including pummeling them with baseball bats and crowbars and piercing them with arrows. Despite the violence that runs through his work, Craste has a great passion for historical porcelain. Working with porcelain allows Craste to explore the prestige and power of upper-class society, but also inequality and the strain that is placed on working people. The anthropomorphic nature of Craste’s vases echoes the human body, making it no surprise that people feel strong emotions when seeing a helpless vase struck by a baseball bat. Triggering these strong emotions in his audience allows Craste to connect on a deeper level as he asks questions about class, money, and power.
Join us for a special artist talk with Craste on Thursday, February 5, 2026. (see the website for exact time of the lecture)
