Art to archaeology to archaeology to art by Douglass W Bailey, i-tune lecture Transcript Abstract Douglass W Bailey discusses the various relationships between art and archaeology, and argues that the most exciting current work is pushing hard against the boundaries of both disciplines. His proposal is for archaeologists and artists to take big risks in their work and to cut loose the restraints of their traditional subject boundaries. The result will be work that is neither art nor archaeology, but something else altogether and something that can take the study of human nature into uncharted and exciting new territories.
From the lecture:
If there is a difference between art and archaeology, then I suggest that it is that individual practitioners bring different skill- and experience-sets to the table. I would go even farther and contend that there is no distinction between art and archaeology. Both work at the same issues. Both work at the issues of what it means to be human. Archaeologists and artists both are trying to understand the essence of being human in this world. It is this common object of study and of work that draws artists to archaeology and more recently that is drawing archaeologists to the context and practice of art.