Thursday, 4 April 2013
Origami Lacquerware from Burma
This is the first series of Craftopia products, which are lacquered paper origami with traditional burmese pattern. Each piece is priced at US$40/HK$350, for half of that we can support a Burmese child's learning material cost for a year. And the items have been selling by Soil since last November in YY9 and the last 2 months in their popup shop in Square Street. (Thanks again for Soil's generous support with free commissioning charge! )
So far we've sold more than 40pcs, and we've just delivered the first badge of donation in Bagan, where our lacquer ware are made. And the priority was given to craftsmen's families in need. The total numbers of families receiving the learning materials(books, stationery, plus half year private tuition fee) are 23, but 2 were not reachable on the date of our shooting. And there's one kid without parents, that we prefer not showing his face here. Although he has indeed a very good looking face, no less heart warming than anyone you see below.
Natural Dye Handkerchief from India
There's this guy, Marcel, who makes bread and earn money to create a school providing free education to the poor kids in Varanasi, India. His story urged me to ask myself questions; What can I make ? What is really worth making ? And where is the connection of making things and doing good things?
And then there's this mini gallery space in Hong Kong called "Frontside Gallery", especially for small scale artworks to encourage affordable art collection beyond the circles of collectors or elites.
So with these questions and opportunities, plus a few blank handkerchief, I made a visit to Varanasi planning to do something with the children for this exhibition. The idea was to introduce a natural dye workshop as an creative experience, and also, as a craft making idea for connecting them with others. All materials involved are sourced local, i.e onion skin left over from market, coffee residue from restaurant. And then the handkerchiefs will be exhibited and sold in the gallery, raising funding back to this school they're going.
And to specifically address this concept of "affordability" in the artspace, all the handkerchiefs will be open for pricing: which means basically that you take what you can give. Or say, you give for the amount of changes you'd like to make.
The mini exhibition will begin this friday 6 April, and will last till the end of the month. Please see if you could afford a visit and find out what can be taken, or given.
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