Global Perspectives

News | 19 April 202219 April 2022

Bringing together emerging and internationally renowned artists, makers and designers, London Craft Week 2022 (9–15 May) will showcase work by more than 700 craftspeople from 26 countries. As we move out of the crisis phase of the pandemic and with the welcome return of international travel, this year’s edition of the festival showcases the importance – now, more than ever – of celebrating shared cultural values and human ingenuity.

Through our diverse programme of exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations and open studios, LCW 2022 will have a strong focus on Asian craftsmanship in addition to celebrating the best of European expertise. We’ve featured a selection of highlights below, but don’t miss the full line up on our Programme page.

Country Pavilion: Malaysia

For the first time this year, the festival presents two curated Country Pavilions, shining a spotlight on London as an international hub where visitors can discover exceptional crafted objects from around the world within the context of their own provenance and purpose. This year’s inaugural Pavilions will focus on Malaysia and Norway.

‘Tenun Pahang: Weaving Hope’ is a large-scale exhibition of Royal Pahang Silk Weave at the Malaysia High Commission presented by HM Queen Azizah of Malaysia, who has been an ambassador for the vanishing craft of silk weaving in Malaysia for more than two decades. Her Majesty has worked to protect and rebuild the silk weaving industry in Pahang, and now runs a social enterprise which trains prison inmates in Pahang in a vocational skill that offers them a future livelihood. Curated by Judith Clark, the exhibition will include archival fabrics from the Museum of Pahang as well as a selection of HM Queen Azizah’s own garments and personal silk collection. Find out more.

Creations Enlivened: Metal

Organised by Crafts on Peel and co-sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (London), ‘Creations Enlivened: Metal’ is a virtual showcase celebrating the work of traditional craftspeople and contemporary artisans from Hong Kong working across a myriad of metals, including copper, brass, silver, tin and galvanised iron. Find out more.

Colour Theatre

The National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute invites fibre artists, master craftspeople and craft groups to create dyed and woven works using colours typically found in Taiwan. Alongside the exhibition, which is taking place at gallery@oxo, workshops throughout the week will teach indigo and soil dyeing techniques for fashion and interiors. Find out more.

Earth and Water

Celebrating the vernacular practices of Oaxacan pottery and the environment that sustains it, Earth and Water is an exhibition of ceramics presented by Revolution of Forms, in collaboration with the Mexican Embassy. View work by artisans and design studios that combine traditional forms and contemporary aesthetics, including a new collection of vessels by acclaimed ceramicist Lucía Ocejo. Find out more.

Art of the Lotus Flower

Turquoise Mountain, in collaboration with Myanmar goldsmiths, launches four new capsule jewellery collections, all inspired by different elements of the lotus flower and handcrafted from a selection of local materials. These pieces celebrate the revival of traditional skills such as filigree, open-wire work and bead making, and are on view at Objet d’Emotion gallery. Find out more.

Courts and Fields

ISHKAR presents an exhibition and in conversation with celebrated British artist and former president of the Royal Academy of Art Sir Christopher Le Brun and his son, ISHKAR co-founder Edmund Le Brun. This year, the father and son launch their first collaboration, titled ‘Courts and Fields’; a collection of limited-edition carpets designed by Sir Christopher Le Brun and crafted by artisans in Afghanistan. Book now.

Icheon Ceramic by Han Collection

Han Collection partners with Icheon Ceramic to bring works of art of exceptional quality and craftsmanship to the UK. Icheon, a designated UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art, is located to the south-east of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. It is home to around 400 studios, where Korean ceramic masters tirelessly pursue beauty and elegance, combining ancient techniques and modern sensibilities. Find out more.

Lu Bin at Ting-Ying Gallery

As part of Artefact, the contemporary craft fair at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, Ting-Ying Gallery presents the inaugural exhibition of ceramic pieces by Chinese maker Lu Bin, who was recently named as finalist for the 2022 LOEWE Craft Prize. Lu Bin’s work demonstrates technical skills mastered over decades of making, combined with social criticisms and mediations on daily life. Book now.

European Savoir Faire

Spotlight on: Headline Sponsors, Delvaux and Serapian

Discover the savoir faire, uncompromising craftsmanship and storytelling of LCW 2022 Headline Sponsors Delvaux and Serapian during the festival.

Founded in Brussels in 1829, Delvaux is the oldest fine leather luxury goods house in history. During the festival, visit Anatomy of a Bag at Delvaux’s flagship store on New Bond Street; a visually rich display of the many carefully crafted components used in the creation of their iconic bags. Find out more.

Meanwhile, Serapian pays tribute to the exquisite materials it carefully selects to craft its exceptional creations, from the fluidity of Mosaico nappa, to the softness of cachemire leather, to the shine of mother of pearl. The exhibition will feature a curated selection of outstanding Made in Italy leather goods in celebration of Milanese design. Find out more.

My Craft, My Legacy

In a state-of-the-art shoe factory in Caslano, Switzerland, Bally’s artisans undergo three years of rigorous training to learn the skills necessary to craft the house’s iconic designs. The 100 craftspeople are celebrated through a series of intimate photographs by Jackson Frederick, on display at Bally Haus, Regent Street, during LCW. On Thursday 12 May, watch live demonstrations of cordwaining techniques. Find out more.

Vienna Vibes

Celebrating the golden age of the Wiener Moderne period, Bonadea on Pimlico Road will be transformed into a slice of Vienna, with an exhibition of works by product designer Bodo Sperlein and premier Austrian artisan makers, Lobmeyr, Jarosinski & Vaugoin, Augarten and Wiener Blut. Befitting the salon-like surroundings of the store, Bodo will curate the space to encapsulate Wiener Jugendstil. Book now.

French Craft Collective

Discover eleven hand-picked French craftspeople, renowned for their know-how, techniques, and unique expertise, at the French Craft Collective, in association with Business France. Highly specialised in residential and commercial design projects, from wrought iron work to porcelain, leather weaving to sculpture, the makers give a glimpse of their selected creations. Find out more.

TONDO

At B&B Italia, YALI Glass presents a new body of work, handcrafted in the historical and artisanal glass furnaces in Murano, Venice. Designed by founder Marie-Rose Kahane, TONDO is the result of an experimental collaboration with the furnace Effetre, known for their extensive production of handcrafted coloured glass rods. Expect unique compositions of hand-poured cast glass. Find out more.

Chanel’s Métiers d’Art

During London Craft Week, Chanel’s Métiers d’Art members, including iconic Parisian milliner Maison Michel, goldsmiths Goossens and lingerie maison ERES, will offer behind-the-scenes insights into their savoir faire. Follow Maison Michel’s hatters and milliners as they craft iconic hats, discover how ERES’ creations are brought to life, and watch live goldsmithing techniques with Goossens’ Parisian atelier artisans.

Featured image courtesy Revolution of Forms