See/ Added Value?/ 28 September to 2 December 2013
St Andrews
General Information
The show will consider six key strands, each characterized by the work of a highly skilled maker:
- Materials, explored through the work of fine artist/jeweller, Zoe Arnold. Arnold manipulates materials including ephemera, precious metals and antique microscope lenses, in order to create meaning in her jewellery installations.
- Traditional Skills, illustrated by the craftsmanship of Oliver Ruuger who takes functional, familiar items such as a gentleman’s briefcase, and renders them valuable through the addition of traditional processes such as leather working.
- Brands, explored via the collaboration between product designer Simon Hasan and fashion house Fendi, whose commission of bespoke mannequins in 2011, demonstrates how craft values are being adopted by high-end brands.
- The Bespoke, shown by a high quality, one-off pair of shoes hand-crafted by shoe makers, carréducker, who use over 200 individual processes in each bespoke pair of shoes.
- Experience, demonstrated through the creations of jelly-mongers, Bompas & Parr, whose edible works of art employ experimental new technologies to create sensory experiences.
- The Everyday, presented through the work of bespoke wallpaper maker, Tracy Kendall, who creates elaborate hand crafted wall coverings.
Through the work of each maker, Added Value? will raise questions about how and why we value objects and whether craft is becoming a new language for luxury.
Each featured object in the exhibition will be accompanied by newly commissioned photography and film. Bruce Montgomery, Professor of Design Craftsmanship at Northumbria University was the curatorial advisor to the exhibition.
On the launch of Added Value? Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director of Crafts Council commented:
“Added Value? is a timely exhibition that looks at the value of craftsmanship within the context of global brands and luxury. The increasing interest in provenance and the narratives behind the things we buy has had a visible impact on how brands market themselves – with many using words like ‘craft’ and craftsmanship’ to denote quality. Added Value? explores where craft sits within this and whether consumers’ perceptions of value are changing.”
