Category: traditional crafts

  • Ceramicists Collaborate with AI

    Ceramicists Collaborate with AI

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    Daniela
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    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

    Batima Zaurbekova: Threads of Heritage Exhibit

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    Daniela
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    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

    Tradition Meets Machinery

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    Daniela
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    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

    Kalamkari Travels Between Worlds

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    Daniela
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    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

    Traditional Japanese Marbling Techniques Create Dreamy Wallcoverings

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    Daniela
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    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

    Province of Fars, Iran’s Celebrated Handicrafts Center

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    Daniela
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    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…

  • Lantern Festivals Worth Crossing the World to See

    Lantern Festivals Worth Crossing the World to See

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    Daniela
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    Known for their breathtaking illuminated displays, lantern festivals serve as celebrations of community, good luck, and new beginnings. Although particularly common in Asia — especially during New Year’s celebrations — lantern festivals occur worldwide. These scenic and often lively events usually feature live performances, tasty eats, and local artisans. The lanterns are often handmade, culturally…

  • Former Timber Merchant Revives Ancient Art

    Former Timber Merchant Revives Ancient Art

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    Daniela
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    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

    Isle of Wight Autumn Hedgelaying Event

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    Daniela
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    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…

  • Tasting With the Eyes

    Tasting With the Eyes

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    Daniela
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    The artificial display foods known as shokuhin sampuru that fill restaurant windows across Japan represent a fascinating innovation with nearly a century of history, showing how a uniquely Japanese craft evolved into an entire industry and pioneered a revolutionary form of visual communication. Sampuru first originated in the 1920s, when rapid modernization in Japan drew masses of rural…