Craftmanship
patient preservation
of out-of-the-ordinary skills
turning objects into treasures
capturing passion in things
tangible memories
where past and present meet
Sanganer, India
an artisan’s haven
streets lined with workshops
fabrics bursting with colors
and intricate patterns
the smell of wood
blended with
the sound of chisels
“Block prints are done by eye, and telltale signs of the human hand, even imperfections, are part of the ineffable humanity and beauty of the craft. But screen prints now have these mistakes designed into them: machines mimicking the imperfections of man. How, then, can craft survive in a world with so much stacked against it? Perhaps with the knowledge that it involves a culture built around a community, in which families and neighbors are working and living in tandem, often across religions, tribes and generations, from a shared history. It is not an easy life. But it is a necessary one.” Source: The New York Times
George Town, Malaysia
honoring a Chinese tradition
creating paper effigies
to shape the afterlife
workshops in colonial houses
colorful snippets on the ground
the taste of peanut sesame balls (Jian Dui)
on an afternoon stroll around
“Chinese traditional customs have it that these paper paraphernalia, when burnt, will be delivered to the deceased in the netherworld. Hell notes, paper clothes, and an array of everyday items are commonly offered during the Qing Ming Festival (Chinese All Souls’ Day), funerals and death anniversaries of the deceased, and can cost as much as $5.000.” Source: The Straits Times & Channel News Asia
