Historical to Hysterical: Clay That Makes Us Laugh And Cry

Historical to Hysterical: Clay That Makes Us Laugh And Cry 

Historical to Hysterical is a group exhibition of beginning to advanced ASU ceramic students vessels that critique current events and found internet ceramic memes that merge art history and pop culture. These contemporary vessels are rooted in the research of historical pot forms from Greek amphoras, Chinese Song Dynasty vases, Mexican Talavera wares, and Indigenous pots - a small part of the worldly and culturally expansive clay cannon. The forms feel historical but the surface of these pots became hysterical as the narratives they depict and unravel are a range of personal narratives from silenced and forgotten histories, reclamation of personhood of the historically suppressed, and examine the current state of politics with the layers of joy, absurdity, wit and humor. These vessels become important reflections of who we find accountable, what stories we tell and the world we want to see. The found memes connect ceramic art history forms that are recognizable within the field to contexts outside of it to spread humor, emotions, and create new ways of education and communication. 

Organized by Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Assistant Professor of Ceramics and with installation help by ASU Historical to Hysterical Fall 2025 class and ASU ceramic students.

Exhibition Dates: Nov. 19–Dec. 5, 2024
Reception: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Gallery Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Image credit: Artist: Moo Deng and William the Hippo meme created by ASU Clay class "Historical to Hysterical"