The Future of Tradition

Held at Somerset House, Reviving Craft is a celebration of the intangible cultural heritage and contemporary design of China. For Entrepreneur, Journalist and Curator, Yang Lan this exhibition is a labour of love. ‘I wanted to showcase the variety and transformation of Chinese design through new crafts and new narratives in today’s world,’ she explains. Co-curated with Su Dan, International Curator and Deputy Director of the Chinese Museum of Intangible Culture Heritage, the exhibition is certainly ambitious in scope; more than 60 artists and 100 objects will be on show, highlighting materials ranging from silk, porcelain and lacquer to filigree, inlay, embroidery and weave. Artists include Zhi Min, Shuang Xi, Wu Haoyu and Wu Guanzhen, among many others.

Reviving Craft is curated as a trilogy, firstly in Paris, exploring the human and nature; then in Milan, with a theme focused on the human and society. This year, taking one step further, the emphasis is on the human and the self. For Lan, this is about something deeper, a reflection of the mind, looking beyond the craftsmanship to embody a philosophical and spiritual exploration of China. This strong connection of body and soul is essentially the show’s underlying theme.

Lan explains: ‘The objects tell a cohesive story. We have explored and been inspired by Confucianism, the cultivation of the mind; Daoism, the nourishing of the mind; and Buddhism, the clarity of the mind.’ She adds: ‘Hand making is a very important driver of evolution and wisdom. It has so much to say about being human and emotional health. This is why people are interested in hand making, it has meaning and bonds people together. Artisans put their lives into their objects; each tell a story.’

Perhaps unexpectedly, Lan’s interest in craft was sparked by a documentary she made on artificial intelligence ten years ago. ‘Initially AI and craft seemed to be parallel universes, but somehow, I found them intersecting more and more. An AI specialist told me that the final defence of human dignity and intelligence is our dextrous hands. They provide physical touch, they make the world tangible and give us an authentic connection with the human body and soul,’ she says.

That belief in the intersection of craft and tech runs through Reviving Craft, effectively bringing Chinese artisans and artists to the attention of a wider audience, partly by integrating technology. For example, a multimedia installation uses AI to visualise the detailed needle stitching of embroidery to showcase the artisan’s skill.

There will also be a chance to discover imperial architecture, and interactive craft workshops for adults and children. ‘I want the show to be eye-and-mind opening, to break stereotypes of Chinese design and to let people discover the creativity of these artists and designers for themselves. The show encapsulates everything from the delicate and exquisite to the bright and bold. This is not coming from an old, closed kingdom, but from a place that is modern and outward-looking,’ explains Lan.

Although Reviving Craft is by its nature a celebration of often-ancient artisan skill, Lan is well aware of the dangers of looking back without looking forward. ‘Craftsmanship is the result of creativity in life and production; it is an artistic pursuit. But if we just repeat past patterns then we are living our ancestors’ creativity, not our own. I knew I wanted to present to the world a new generation of Chinese artists and designers. They have found exciting new narratives in heritage. Maybe they use old materials or techniques, but they also find new shapes, colours, functions; they imbue designs with new emotion and tell new stories. This show is all about that contemporary spirit and expression.’

Words by Tamsin Kingswell