Being Authentic: The Copy, the Fake and the Real in Museum Displays
This talk will examine an installation of Chinese works of art that was held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Asian galleries earlier this year. The installation, Authentic: Truth and Perception in Chinese Art was conceived to explore the bigger question of how art could be made more relevant to audiences today and inspire social change. Many museum collections have works that are not necessarily displayed, whether it is because they need further research or are considered fakes or copies. Is an installation on this topic interesting and of value? Could a display like this, which considers the Chinese tradition of copying, perspectives and historical context, prompt audiences to think about what is real and fake in their everyday lives? By asking the question, what does it mean for a work of art to be authentic, I'll discuss the organization of the installation and share some observations.
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Dr Hiromi Kinoshita recently presented in our series on her recent exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art titled "Authentic: Truth and Perception in Chinese Art." As part of the programming for that exhibition, a conversation was recorded between her, Ai Weiwei and James Lally. To listen to the conversation, please follow the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adne0dRdCXg&t=3s
Description:
Artist Ai Weiwei and art dealer James Lally joined curator Hiromi Kinoshita to discuss their own perspectives about copying in Chinese art, raising questions about what we truly value in cultural artifacts. This online conversation brought together topics from the Philadelphia Museum of Art's current installation, "Authentic: Truth and Perception in Chinese Art" and the exhibition, Ai Weiwei: The Liberty of Doubt at Kettle's Yard, University of Cambridge. "Authentic: Truth and Perception in Chinese Art" and the accompanying programs presented in conjunction with the exhibition are made possible by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global.
For the "Authentic: Truth and Perception in Chinese Art" exhibit:
https://philamuseum.org/calendar/exhibition/authentic-truth-and-percept…
Thank you again for Dr Kinoshita for sharing her work!