At first glance, John Watts-Nielsen’s sculptures resemble items on display at a random European museum. By being placed in a museum, an artifact loses its original meaning and purpose, which often involved ritual or ceremonial practices. Within the hierarchical context of the museum, it becomes first and foremast a part of art history. The loss of original contexts is especially visible with objects created by non-European cultures. The reconstruction of original contexts and the deconstruction of museological or postcolonial stereotypes are a part of contemporary art history just as much as they are of muesology, but that can also form a starting point for artistic activity.
Ondřej Chrobák