Revival of Crafts in Contemporary Design & Collaboration with Contemporary Artists

Mother-of-pearl inlay on black lacquered wood

High art has always been elitist

It has always been under the patronage of the ruling classes, the aristocratic class, thanks to which the world's masterpieces have been preserved for us.

Today, art has become mass-produced. Obviously, it has a right to exist, but will mass art remain as a legacy to the next generations? Our answer is NO.

This project serves to promote the cultural heritage and crafts of China, whose history goes back to the origins of human civilisation. Europe has taken a lot from China. For example, the idea of porcelain, the birthplace of which is China, and in the 18th century in Europe even appeared a new style of Chinoiserie, invented on the basis of the European idea of the Celestial Empire.

Wood carving and mother-of-pearl inlay

The connection of cultures is undeniable. China has an extensive and unique network of master craftsmen like no other country in the world. Historically, the formation of crafts has travelled through the many provinces of China, which has helped to keep them alive for thousands of years, passing on the experience of the old masters to new generations.

Everything new is met with aggressive rejection from all sides because people are used to thinking in stereotypes and patterns. Modern art has turned into the same template.

Museum piece of Chinese embroidery

The aim of the project is to break these stereotypes, to combine the age-old traditions of Chinese craftsmen with the high creativity of European artists to create a unique symbiosis of cultures capable of creating high art. The use of non-traditional materials to create unique art objects, such as silk embroidery, the use of gold and silver threads, pearls, specially created fabrics, inlaying with valuable woods, using half-forgotten ancient techniques of applying Chinese natural varnishes and much more - this is the project's task.

Revival of Crafts in Contemporary Design

Don Quixote Embroidery, Artwork in Progress

The selection of the items in the collection for the shows was not made by chance. It was based on collaboration with artists who I consider to be geniuses today and whose talents have not been properly discovered, and on the choice of proven techniques for the execution of the artworks and as Revival of Crafts in Contemporary Design. In this way, the collection shows the full range of skills of the artists and belongs to the couture art category.

Final Artwork, 150 x 170 cm

It is difficult to say something new about Don Quixote. Each artist interpreted this image according to the aesthetics of his time, and no one tried to plunge into the atmosphere of Spanish and, of course, Flemish Mannerism, although Cervantes' satire is Mannerist. Today this style has been forgotten.

They call for a great talent of the artist, his complete rethinking of what is going on and creation of allegorical images.

 The ultimate illustration of Don Quixote is presented in the form of a grotesque. The composition has nothing to do with the plot of Cervantes' novel. In the modern reading, the eternal flow of water as part of the philosophy of this world. This new art and interior design with this new vision. The water wheel spins the blades of the mill, as if grinding time, forcing us to reflect on its transience. In the eternal pursuit of their goals, people do not have time to think about spirituality, no time to contemplate the world, and therefore to slow down a little the running of time. Contemplation suspends all life processes and prolongs life.  To recreate this artistic image we have chosen the technique of hand embroidery with the finest silk, which transmits numerous shades due to the reflective ability of the material. It takes at least a year of the master's work to complete such a work.

Close fragment of Don Quixote

The ancient technique of hand embroidery in fine silk is being revived again in the workshop of artists of Investment Club, who are able to breathe fresh air into the craft, which is almost forgotten today, bringing it to the level of art.  This level of work demands masters of the highest calibre with at least 20 years of experience.  The use of silk for the implementation of modern decorative art gives it even greater value, and the durability of silk makes these works antiques after many years.  In the best museums of the world there are still silk tapestries made more than 300 years ago and all of them are in perfect condition. In addition, natural silk has an incredible ability to reflect light depending on the colour of the threads, which gives the finished work an additional game of halftones and so enlivens the picture that at a distance it may seem as if we see the image in 3 dimensions. We use this wonderful feature of silk to create unique images, including a modern reading of Cervantes' famous hero.