Art has been reproduced for generations, but generally the originals are reserved for museum walls while the reproductions are sent to gift shop shelves. When it comes to historic glasswork, however, the Getty Villa feels the replicas deserve just as much show time as the originals.
The Getty Villa’s newest exhibit, “Reflecting Antiquity,” should be more appropriately named “Replicating Antiquity,” as the exhibit simply copies ancient glass pieces.
The exhibit consists of copies of glass-blown pieces that originated in different countries throughout history.
While the modern glass is supposedly inspired by ancient techniques, it doesn’t seem like the artists found much ingenuity.
Inspiration implies creativity in making something new; these pieces are simply duplicates. And since the original pieces can be viewed in the British Museum or The Corning Museum of Glass in New York, it simply appears odd to show replicas in such a prestigious museum.
Despite the proliferation of replicas, the Getty Villa has attracted a few original pieces. The most important, the Lycurgus cup, however, is displayed in the same case as its replica.
Oddly enough, it is the replica the audience is meant to admire. The original is there for comparison.
Granted, the quality of the art is still quite impressive even if they are copies. The array of techniques and diverse styles presented in this exhibit, such as cameo glass, cage cups, gold glass, iridescence and mosaic, are dazzling.
It is clear that the creation of these pieces required much effort and time on the artists’ parts, as seen in the videos that accompany the displays.
But some of the pieces were completed as late as 2007, and the artists are endowed with every kind of technology imaginable.
Yet the originals, which were created with the use of stone and wooden tools, are much more captivating than these modern attempts.
Just as audiences aren’t blown away when a copy machine recreates a picture, it’s hard to be impressed when modern technology recreates existing art.
The Getty also displays a notebook from an artist who took notes on these pieces to copy them and mass-produce them for households, but since when is mass production a form of high art?
Just as no one would consider copying the “Mona Lisa” and calling it art, duplicated vases and cups should not be lauded for their miraculous artistic quality.
If it can be mass-produced and sold in the gift shop, it shouldn’t be in the display case.
““ Suzy Evans
E-mail Evans at sevans@media.ucla.edu.