Following the example of their French predecessors, the Danes drew their inspiration from Japanese stoneware vessels and transformed them radically. Arne Bang's hemispherical bowl with sharp flanges and a cylindrical vase with rounded shoulders, both from the early 1930s, would not look out of place in a contemporary setting. Both sold on the opening night. While European taste has been changing fast in recent years, the great contraction of art supplies has accelerated the shift from the past to the 20th century. Artifacts that until recently would have been acquired to be integrated into some period decor are now sought after as works of art that can be fitted into modern settings.
Tapestries offer the most striking instance.
Here, unforgettable masterpieces are still to be found. Simulated cut borders along the edges create the illusion that they can barely contain the ripples of the composition. The effect in both tapestries is magic. The growing internationalization of the biennale also plays its part in the trend away from the traditional styles and areas of interest. The enhanced profile of early Chinese art is largely the result of foreign participation.