Spectacular Craft At Victoria And Albert Museum

Works include a scattering of life-like weeds and plants ‘growing’ around the gallery, all skillfully hand-carved from wood; an apparently paint-splattered table which has been inlaid with mother of pearl; a seven metre high crimson cascade made using traditional Chinese paper-cutting methods.

Out of the Ordinary brings together artists from the UK, America, Nigeria, China and Japan. It will feature new commissions by Olu Amoda, Catherine Bertola, Annie Cattrell, Susan Collis, Naomi Filmer, Lu Shengzhong, Yoshihiro Suda and Anne Wilson.

These artists use traditional craft skills, including embroidery, wood carving, lace-making and marquetry – playing with extremes of scale or re-working precious, ephemeral or everyday materials such as diamonds, dust and nails to create new and striking effects.

Laurie Britton Newell, V&A Curator of Contemporary Programmes and curator of the exhibition, said: “Out of the Ordinary explores the exceptional skill and meticulous making in the work of these artists. Craft is fundamental to many creative disciplines and this exhibition will show how extraordinary craft can be.”

Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director, Crafts Council said: “Out of the Ordinary is the first in a series of collaborative projects between the Crafts Council and the V&A. The artists included in the exhibition are pushing the boundaries and expectations of what craft is. Through this exhibition we hope to engage a younger generation in the debates surrounding craft today.” -- www.vam.ac.uk