Ever seen a sticky gnome? I made an experimental one  about a year ago. At the time I was trying to make the worst work of art I could think of, hoping this would help clarify my ideas about art. My question was: what makes a work good. or bad. or downright ugly?

Stuck it in the garden afterwards, then forgot all about it. Until today, that is. I was moving the potted plants into the shed (we are soon to have frost), and there it stood. Took me a second or two to recognise it, it has acquired a nice patina, and all stickyness has gone. Question: is it still bad? Answer: it’s better than it used to be. Question: Why?