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Despite its long history, Burmese lacquer ware
is hardly known in the
West. Using sap from the wild Melanorrhoea tree, the lacquering
process
is extremely complex and laborious, involving up to ten separate
procedures.
Like so many indigenous crafts that have been handed down from generation
to generation, lacquer making is facing a gloomy future. High overheads,
such as the gold leaf and cinnabar used for decoration, and a downturn
in
demand from the local market mean that highly skilled families of
artisans
are increasingly turning their backs on their heritage and seeking
other
means of livelihood.
Veronica Gritsenko established the Black Elephant workshop in Burma.
Working very closely with master craftsmen, her aim is to return
the
young Burmese to this time-honoured livelihood and to ensure the
continuation of this threatened tradition. Veronica Gritsenko is
a designer
with a multi-disciplined educational background taking in everything
from
Physics to Chinese, Japanese and Indian art. In her talk she will
give a brief
outline of the history of this unique craft and describe its intricate
production
processes. She will show how this ancient tradition has the potential
to be
transformed into a contemporary art form.
The talk will be followed by a drinks reception kindly sponsored
by the
SW Clive Charitable Trust. |
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