Humans of crafts

An art craftsperson is absolutely involved in social transformation: they use natural or chemical resources in their work, and they must transmit their skills to others in order not to lose their memories and be able to allow transformation.

Maïté Mazel in a blogpost 'Craft and education' / 2022

If a craft product is essentially defined by the manual part of the work done to create it, then craftspeople are not only working with their hands. They experiment with and draw inspiration and resources from a centuries-old ecosystem and tradition. They trade and transmit their know-how within their communities and through generations. We can learn so much about our history and heritage by looking at craftspeople and the things they make, within their own geographical and social contexts.

Through photographs and documents from a range of archives, this exhibition shares an overview of the work and history of craftspeople. It looks at the broad range of crafts that exist in their long history, how they have evolved and the issues craftspeople face. It also seeks to open a broader reflection on crafts by using the testimonies of four contemporary artists who are interested in and use crafts as resources for their artistic work.