Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time

About Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time

Stories of the materials used in making art are often as thought-provoking and illuminating as the objects themselves. From The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Immaterial examines the materials of art and what they can reveal about history and humanity. Each episode looks at a single material: paper, clay, jade, shells, and others, exploring the qualities and meanings that are often overlooked.

Publisher

The Met

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 May 2022

Latest episode

10 Sept 2024

Latest episodes

20 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Sept 2024

   Time: Keeping Digital Art Alive

   How do art conservators save video art from obsolescence? If a painting on canvas rips or a marble sculpture shatters to pieces, art conservators are trained to respond accordingly and repair it. Artworks that unfold over time – like videos and software based works – are a different thing altogether. These artworks are made using cutting-edge technologies that are constantly being updated. If the “canvas” or medium an artwork is made on keeps shifting, how do art conservators protect these works from obsolescence? Guests: Jonathan Farbowitz, time-based media conservator Jennifer and Kevin McCoy, artists Ho Tzu Nyen, artist Nora Kennedy, Sherman Fairchild Conservator In Charge, Photograph Conservation Featured artworks: Thomas Tompion (clockmaker) Jasper Braem (case), Longcase clock with calendrical, lunar, and tidal indications, also known as the Graves Tompion, ca. 1677–80: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/209296 Jennifer and Kevin McCoy, Every Shot, Every Episode, 2001: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/284985 Ho Tzu Nyen, The Critical Dictionary of Southeast Asia, 2017–present: https://cdosea.org Cover art: Joseph Knibb (clockmaker), Longcase clock with calendar, ca. 1680–85: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/205601 For a transcript of the episode and more information, visit metmuseum.org/immaterialtime #MetImmaterial Immaterial is produced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Magnificent Noise and hosted by Camille Dungy. Our production staff includes Salman Ahad Khan, Ann Collins, Samantha Henig, Eric Nuzum, Emma Vecchione, Sarah Wambold, and Jamie York. Additional staff includes Julia Bordelon, Skyla Choi, Maria Kozanecka, and Rachel Smith. Sound design by Ariana Martinez and Kristin Mueller. Original music by Austin Fisher. Fact-checking by Mary Mathis and Claire Hyman. Immaterial is made possible by Dasha Zhukova Niarchos. Additional support is provided by the Zodiac Fund. Special thanks to Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong, Avery Trufelman, associate conservator Jonathan Farbowitz, conservator in charge Nora Kennedy, collections technician Sam Winks, Kevin and Jennifer McCoy, Ho Tzu Nyen, associate curator Lesley Ma, and associate curator Lauren Rosati. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

2. 

   27 Aug 2024

   Wood: The Most Musical Tree in the World

   How did one tree become a world-famous tonewood for guitars? Deep in the forests of Belize, a wood importer from Florida discovered a rare tree that produced a sound unlike anything guitar virtuosos had ever heard before. But why does this material cast such a spell? And at what cost does that come? Guests: Ellen Ruppel Shell, journalist Ken Parker, luthier Reuben Forsland, luthier Steve Cardenas, guitarist Jennifer Anderson, historian and author of Mahogany: The Cost of Luxury in Early America Althea SullyCole, guitarist and former Fellow in The Met’s Department of Musical Instruments Featured artwork: Ken Parker, Archtop guitar, 2016: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/677213 For a transcript of the episode and more information, visit metmuseum.org/immaterialwood #MetImmaterial Immaterial is produced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Magnificent Noise and hosted by Camille Dungy. Our production staff includes Salman Ahad Khan, Ann Collins, Samantha Henig, Eric Nuzum, Emma Vecchione, Sarah Wambold, and Jamie York. Additional staff includes Julia Bordelon, Skyla Choi, Maria Kozanecka, and Rachel Smith. Sound design by Ariana Martinez and Kristin Mueller. Original music by Austin Fisher and Salman Ahad Khan. Fact-checking by Mary Mathis and Claire Hyman. Immaterial is made possible by Dasha Zhukova Niarchos. Additional support is provided by the Zodiac Fund. Special thanks to Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong, curator Jayson Dobney, conservator Manu Frederickx, educator David Freeman, Dick Boak, Gabriela Guadalajara, and curator Alyce Englund. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

3. 

   13 Aug 2024

   Trash: The Archaeology of Rubbish

   An archaeologist and an artist walk into a dump… For most of us, we throw our garbage to the curb, and it disappears from our lives. But to some, that’s just the beginning of trash’s story. In this episode, we follow two people who seek the truth in trash—an archaeologist who excavates ancient rubbish in Turkmenistan and an artist who spotlights the people responsible for making trash vanish. Guests: Martina Rugiadi, associate curator, Department of Islamic Art, The Met sTo Len, artist Andy Blancero, development officer, Freshkills Park Alliance Featured artworks: Chakaia Booker, Raw Attraction, 2001: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/492175 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/492175) Bowl with Green, Yellow, and Brown Splashed Decoration. Excavated in Iran, Nishapur, 10th century: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/449348 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/449348) Stone Oil Lamp. Excavated in Iran, Nishapur, 9th century: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/449328 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/449328) Painted Dado Panels. Excavated in Iran, Nishapur, 9th century: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/449862 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/449862) James Hampton, The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly, ca. 1950-1964: https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/throne-third-heaven-nations-millennium-general-assembly-9897 (https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/throne-third-heaven-nations-millennium-general-assembly-9897) Fragment of a Wall Painting with a Fox or a Dog (and Painted Layers). Excavated in Iran, Nishapur, 12th century: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/708593 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/708593) For a transcript of the episode and more information, visit metmuseum.org/immaterialtrash (http://metmuseum.org/immaterialtrash) #MetImmaterial Immaterial is produced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Magnificent Noise and hosted by Camille Dungy. Our production staff includes Salman Ahad Khan, Ann Collins, Samantha Henig, Eric Nuzum, Emma Vecchione, Sarah Wambold, and Jamie York. Additional staff includes Julia Bordelon, Skyla Choi, Maria Kozanecka, and Rachel Smith. Sound design by Ariana Martinez and Kristin Mueller. Original music by Austin Fisher. Fact-checking by Mary Mathis and Claire Hyman. Immaterial is made possible by Dasha Zhukova Niarchos. Additional support is provided by the Zodiac Fund. Special thanks to Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong, Avery Trufelman, Brinda Kumar, Navina Haider. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

204 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

80 ratings

Contact Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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