Your Thoughts On Art

[Belacqua]

And I really don't need to understand the different tastes and perspectives of other people. 

It just occurred to me: there's another reason for not expanding your artistic horizons: money.

For the first many years I was in Japan, I was only interested in the more rough and Zen-like pottery. Bizen or that kind of thing. Simple and rustic and pure. I bought a few pieces, but it was never a big deal for me. 

Then about two years ago, I suddenly realized the appeal of the more ornate porcelain styles, especially 19th century Imari. It had always seemed too careful to me before, but something opened up in my brain and now I absolutely love it. I've been obsessed. 

The trouble is that this stuff is extremely collectible. For a while there I was spending a scary amount of money. Like, I have three soba cups with this style of dragon on them, and there's a variation with the same kind of dragon but flying over waves, and if I get two of those they will all look really good together. Goddam. And the next thing you know the credit card has melted in your hands........