Category: Handcrafts
-
Ceramicists Collaborate with AI
In 2024, a collaborative project brought ceramic artists together to explore the relationship between traditional ceramic practice and artificial intelligence. Using Midjourney as one tool within a broader creative process, the project examined how AI can influence artistic ideas, aesthetics, and production while encouraging critical discussion about its ethical implications. The initiative also aimed to…
-
Batima Zaurbekova: Threads of Heritage Exhibit
The Abylkhan Kasteyev National Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty presents Threads of Heritage, a major exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of Batima Zaurbekova, one of Kazakhstan’s most influential artists and a pioneer of the national school of tapestry. On view from September 25 to November 8, 2026, the exhibition brings together more than 80 works—including tapestries, paintings, and graphic…
-
Tradition Meets Machinery
For generations, the sedge mat has been a familiar presence in Vietnamese homes. Today, the tradition continues, with skilled hands and modern machinery working together to keep the craft alive. “In the past, every house had several mats,” said Nguyễn Thanh Bình, owner of the Xuân Hòa mat workshop in Vũ Hạ Village, located in…
-
Kalamkari Travels Between Worlds
This article was originally published as part of the AAJA Voices program. It can be read here. In a bright Brooklyn apartment, young professionals gather around a large wooden table, learning to work with natural dyes and the bamboo pens traditionally used in making kalamkari, an ancient artform from rural Andhra Pradesh in southeastern India. Artisans…
-
Traditional Japanese Marbling Techniques Create Dreamy Wallcoverings
Natascha Maksimovic wants to bring people closer to nature. Using centuries-old techniques, the Margate, England–based artist, also known as Nat Maks, paints expansive marbled landscapes that immerse the viewer in mesmerizing organic motifs. “In a time when digital tools and AI are reshaping our lives, I feel it’s more important than ever to hold on to…
-
Province of Fars, Iran’s Celebrated Handicrafts Center
Fars province in southern Iran hosts 120 of Iran’s 370 active handicraft disciplines, showcasing immense cultural and economic potential. UNESCO honors and global museum showcases affirm Fars’s artistic excellence, sustainable craftsmanship, and international market appeal. Qashqai carpets, woven from memory using natural dyes, symbolize tribal heritage and drive exports despite external economic pressures. The southern…
-
Former Timber Merchant Revives Ancient Art
In Jianghan district of Wuhan, Hubei province, Wu Youquan, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of traditional guqin making, has spent over two decades transforming himself from a timber merchant into a master luthier, a maker of stringed instruments. Born in 1972 in Tuanfeng, Hubei, the craftsman has adhered to the philosophy of “approaching…
-
Isle of Wight Autumn Hedgelaying Event
This sounds like fun – and it’s free! A countryside tradition will take centre stage at an event this autumn. The Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Havenstreet will host the Autumn Isle of Wight Hedgelaying competition on November 8, with the first event taking place earlier this year. Thomas Cowley, trustee of event organiser…
-
Some of the Most Expensive Products in the World
From silk kimonos and South Sea pearls to handmade globes and Moroccan rugs, Business Insider traveled the globe to uncover the stories behind some of the world’s most valuable handcrafted items.
-
Xo Dang Artisan Crafts Traditional Instruments From the Forest
Vietnamnet global features A Huyen, who from a young age was immersed in the sounds of traditional instruments and learned, not only, to play them, but craft them. Although he graduated from university, A Huyen, an ethnic Xo Dang man from Village 3 in Dak To commune, Quang Ngai province, chose a different path: to…
