'Setomonogatari'

Ceramic Practice as an Archaeology of the Contemporary Past

Authors

  • Chris McHugh Ulster University, UK / Seto City Cultural Promotion Foundation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/jca.32417

Keywords:

archaeology, art, ceramics, ruins, Seto, Japan

Abstract

I will argue that my creative ceramic practice has much in common with archaeological approaches to the contemporary past in that it takes the form of a “creative materialising intervention”, focusing on marginal or otherwise overlooked aspects of person-object interaction. This will be illustrated by reference to recent artworks made in Seto, Japan, a traditional centre of pottery production. By reanimating old moulds and repurposing discarded sherds, my work explores the site’s changing materiality through time and is itself a proactive contribution to the archaeological record, capturing an enduring glimpse of the past and present of this ceramics community.

Author Biography

  • Chris McHugh, Ulster University, UK / Seto City Cultural Promotion Foundation

    Chris McHugh is Lecturer in Ceramics at Ulster University.

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Published

2018-02-19

Issue

Section

Creative Archaeologies Forum

How to Cite

McHugh, C. (2018). ’Setomonogatari’: Ceramic Practice as an Archaeology of the Contemporary Past. Journal of Contemporary Archaeology, 4(2), 183-194. https://doi.org/10.1558/jca.32417