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TRADE & TRANSFORMATION (2023)
Every object holds a story.
Across time, artists have infused stories into the objects they create, whether through their function, the process used to make them, or simply their beauty. From class and religion to culture and geographic location, objects hold the stories of their makers. As these objects travel the world, their stories change and they in turn change the people who interact with them.
Trade routes are key places where these changes happen. The Silk Road, among the longest and most important trade networks in history, spanned East Asia, Europe, and Africa over land and sea from about 130 BCE to 1453 CE. Travelers on these routes exchanged precious stones and metals, silk and wool, tools, religious objects, perfumes, food, spices, and art. These exchanges influenced entire nations, bringing in new perspectives and sparking curiosity to explore the world in search of more.
Trade & Transformation tells the stories of objects and reveals how those stories have been transformed by trade. This exhibition focuses on works by fourteen international contemporary artists drawn from the Museum’s collection and key loans. These works are presented alongside historical African, Asian, and Native American objects. Within these groups and pairings, global themes related to culture, environment, and power emerge.
Every object holds a story. And telling those stories offers us a powerful opportunity to come to new understandings.
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All images are copyright Philbrook Museum of Art, photographed by Bhadri Verduzco (2023).