""The conceptual attempt was to not make pots that demonstrate my ceramic prowess but break my pots to celebrate this beautiful object that Dave made," Gates tells The Art Newspaper."
""To sacrifice my vessels is very much an offering to Dave and his family. It's a very small gesture, but having this contract with Dave's family-and just having a moment where the public can bear witness to this exchange-feels like the right kind of exhibition for me right now.""
The exhibition 'Dave: All My Relations' by Theaster Gates at Gagosian's Park Avenue honors David Drake, an enslaved ceramicist. It features two vessels by Drake, one returned to his descendants through a restitution agreement. Gates created a plinth from pulverized pots to elevate Drake's legacy. He emphasizes the importance of this gesture as a form of poetic justice, celebrating Drake's artistry while acknowledging the historical context of slavery and the significance of returning the works to their rightful heirs.
Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
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