Fragile and Forever explores thousands of years of ceramic artistry at Queensland Museum
Ancient clay vessels, intricate hand-crafted artefacts and contemporary ceramic artworks are coming together in a visually rich new exhibition at Queensland Museum Kurilpa, offering a striking look at the enduring power of ceramics across cultures and centuries.
Fragile and Forever draws from Queensland Museum’s expansive collection, bringing nearly 300 objects into the spotlight – many of which have never been publicly displayed before. The result is an exhibition filled with colour, texture and extraordinary craftsmanship, where ancient objects sit alongside bold contemporary works.
The exhibition travels through thousands of years of ceramic-making, revealing how the art form has long been used to document everyday life, artistic traditions and cultural identity. Visitors can move between delicate vessels crafted by Japan’s ancient Jōmon people, beautifully preserved ceramics from China, Greece, Egypt and Italy, and artefacts recovered from HMS Pandora.
Contemporary works add another dimension to the exhibition, with acclaimed First Nations artists using ceramics as a medium for storytelling, memory and connection to Country. Across the collections, the exhibition reflects on the remarkable longevity of ceramic objects and their ability to preserve traces of human history across generations.
Queensland Museum’s acting head of cultures and histories, Dr Geraldine Mate, said the exhibition offers a unique lens through which to view human history and artistry.
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“Ceramics are more than objects, they are storytellers. They connect us to the past, reflect the present and inspire the future,” Dr Mate said.
“Fragile and Forever showcases the incredible diversity and resilience of ceramics, from pottery fragments thousands of years old, to contemporary artworks from celebrated First Nations artists, and invites visitors to reflect on their own connection to these timeless creations.”
Whether you’re drawn to ancient history, contemporary art or beautifully crafted design, this is an exhibition well worth taking your time through.
Fragile and Forever is now open at Queensland Museum Kurilpa, with the free exhibition welcoming visitors daily from 9:30 am. For more information, visit the Queensland Museum website.
This article was written in partnership with our good friends at Queensland Museum.
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