Header: “Mumo”, courtesy of Re-Craft
The Re-Craft project showcases traditional crafts to the public, allowing people to understand that traditional crafts and cultural elements are just one aspect of a broader heritage. Re-Craft aims to explore traditional crafts and combine them with new design methods. Through collaboration with brands and artists, the project can create works that are more suitable for modern life, giving new life to traditional crafts.
A better way to promote and preserve traditional crafts is for the public to appreciate and use lifestyle products incorporating these crafts, rather than merely learning about them through museum or gallery exhibitions.
With the theme “Thinking about Crafts: Future, Craftsmanship, and Mass Market,” Re-Craft’s goal is to explore global traditional crafts and culture, use modern design methods to rejuvenate traditional crafts and ensure that traditional crafts, culture, and design form a healthy, sustainable cycle with the public market.
In the past, efforts to protect and promote traditional crafts were limited to education and display. However, traditional craft products gradually became less compatible with modern public life and environments, leading to a disconnect between traditional crafts and people’s needs.
Re-Craft is pioneering in its approach to combining traditional crafts, culture, art, and the mass market, using new design methods to breathe new life into traditional crafts. The best way to protect traditional crafts is to integrate them into daily life.
This innovative model of inheritance and promotion has garnered significant attention in the design, art, and industry sectors. The exhibition alone attracted over 20 traditional craft brands and independent artists, leading to successful collaborations and integration of traditional crafts into the Re-Craft platform. This has connected traditional crafts with global public lifestyles, generating great interest and confidence in this new model.
From an industry perspective, this is the most innovative and practical way to promote traditional crafts, art, and design. From a public perspective, the Re-Craft platform encourages people to experience new lifestyles and cultural forms.
As the initiator and creator of these events, Zhang Bo is dedicated to exploring local traditional crafts and culture, integrating them with modern design. He believes that the best way to promote traditional crafts and culture is to have more people recognize, use, and incorporate products with traditional craft elements and oriental aesthetics into their daily lives. This approach not only preserves heritage but also pays tribute to it, providing economic support and feedback to traditional craft communities.
