Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time - Podcast Rankings and reviews

I’ve listened to all the episodes so far (“linen” is the latest, as of this writing).

I’ve really enjoyed the podcast. It appreciates the art and materials on an aesthetic level, and also — the two are intertwined — their histories. There are some fascinating backstories in here, and they go deep with some stuff.

The episode on CLAY takes us on a journey to Mexico, and we meet a contemporary maker of “búcaros” — clay jars — a tradition that’s been around for hundreds of years.

The episode on JADE talks with several Maori people talking about jade pendants, and they gets into some fascinating stuff about the role of museums, taking care not only of the physical artworks but of the metaphysical properties of the art.

The episode on CEMENT was also super-interesting, and talked among other things about how cement is the material of empires (or colonizers), they pave roads and make buildings as a way of establishing their economic presence and dominance.

The podcast invites us on some very cool journeys. At its best, it makes good use of sound and soundscapes, to put us in the scene.

I like the host and her presenting style. Her voice reflects her curiosity, interest, and how she savors the art and the stories behind it.

This is a great podcast! Instead of just dryly talking about the collection, this podcast examines the materials used in art making and the sometimes complicated history of those materials. It's also a beautifully sound designed podcast and a pleasure to listen to.

i was pulled in episode after episode by the sound design, and found myself learning so much, seeing so many things in new ways. this is a beautiful gift to anyone who is curious about the magic of the physical world and the beauty of the human imagination.

This is one of the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to — the first, in fact, that I’ve ever listened to in it’s entirety. Not only was the production and storytelling captivating, but it has changed the way I see the world around me and the objects we use on a day to day basis. I hope there will be more like this to come!