Argentine Ambassador's Residence Plays Host to Designers During London Craft Week
As part of London Craft Week, Estudio Museo brings together the work of five Argentinian designers, unveiled in an exhibition titled Contemporary Huts at the Argentine Ambassador's Official Residence in London.
As part of London Craft Week, Estudio Museo brings together the work of five Argentinian designers, unveiled in an exhibition titled Contemporary Huts at the Argentine Ambassador's Official Residence in London.
The art of craft and its appreciation in society is dwindling. If anything, the pendulum that is craft has swung back and forth over the last 100 years. One minute, it's deemed the 'pinnacle of luxury'; the next, it's associated with nothing more than discounted warehouse stores such as Hobbycraft. Digital ventures in the creative industries have once again turned craft's representation on its head, but what does it all really mean? While London Craft Week marks the ultimate celebration of all things art and crafts, its bottom line traces how the art of craft is always integral to our society, digital or not.
Recognising the ongoing importance of giving platforms to emerging talents in such textile-based industries, the Argentine Ambassador Javier Figueroa has kindly lent his residence for the time-limited exhibition Contemporary Huts which is open until 14 May. Spotlighting the work of five Argentinian craft makers, their processes and the stories woven in their artwork, the Estudio Museo-curated exhibition purposefully emphasises historical truths embedded within, especially concerning those looking to preserve native communities and their ancestral craftsmanship through their contemporary work. Featuring artists Sofia Mattioli of La Sucursal Design, Caroline Salom of CSalom Atelier, the Tejedores Andinos collective and Guadalupe Vilar, Contemporary Huts is an extension that London Craft Week seeks to preserve.
In addition to the above, there will also be two LCW workshops, both held on 12 May at the Ambassador's residence, based on adapting ancient techniques in craft to help restore the future. The first will focus on 'how to build garments by the transformation of wasted clothes' while the second focuses on the art of felting and 'the world of wool language', where attendees will be given a 2-hour introduction to the language of wool and the different ways of manipulating the material. Each participant will be able to take away their own creation.