「et Matière」In Dialogue with Object, in Reunion with Self

While accustomed to rapid consumption and instant gratification in this age of material excess, we often overlook how everyday objects embody chronological depth, artisanal wisdom, and cultural symbolism. This exhibition asks a fundamental question: How can we re-engage with objects in meaningful ways?

Historical objects represent artifacts of civilization, repositories of belief systems, ritual structures, and quotidian aesthetics. From Chinese bronze vessels and tea ware of various materials to William Morris' "Beauty of Utility" and Bauhaus functional aesthetics, objects have always been deeply intertwined with human cognition and lived experience.

The artists in this exhibition work with various materials—ceramics, lacquer, glass, metal—to create everyday objects that aims to respect to the characteristics of various materials while simultaneously maximizing ways each material can be crafted and presented. These creators aim not to simply use the materials, but to work in collaboration with materials. Echoing anthropologist Tim Ingold’s assertion that every material…