Rethinking Craftsmanship

As part of intangible cultural heritage, craftsmanship practices not only represent past traditions, but also contemporary methods of production focusing on sustainable use of natural materials in local manufacturing. This exhibition aims to highlight different types of craftsmanship in relation to natural materials and the processes they undergo, how they relate to the current discourse on sustainability and environmental issues, and their relevance in cultural heritage. In the face of increasing industrialisation, mass production and globalisation, many traditional craftsmanship practices have been rendered stagnant — or in the worst case obsolete. Passed on from generation to generation and varying through different regions, these practices, always evolving in response to a fastly changing world, continue to provide communities with a sense of identity and respect for cultural diversity.