Blessings and Peace: Desert Storm 1993

Editor: Here we have Wasma’a Chorbachi’s ceramic piece, "Blessings and Peace: Desert Storm." It’s a shallow plate, and the glazed calligraphy gives it a weighty feel. What strikes you about the artist's choice of materials? Curator: The rough materiality speaks volumes. The plate's form, traditionally domestic, is disrupted by its crude edges and uneven glazing. It challenges the idea of high art, elevating the craft of pottery while commenting on consumption amidst conflict. Editor: So, the process and materials used are actually part of the message itself? Curator: Precisely. The very act of creation, the labor involved in shaping the clay and applying the glaze, becomes a statement about resilience and the human cost of war. The inherent fragility of the material juxtaposes the strength needed to endure such events. Editor: I see it now. Looking at it that way provides a richer understanding. Curator: Indeed, considering the means of production opens up new avenues for interpretation.