Craft making: Traditional and creative trajectories in Jingdezhen, China

Abstract

Debates surrounding craft-making have long centred on the intricate relationship among the head, hand and the materials. While studies have typically differentiated between traditional craft and creative crafts by focusing on specific aspect of the relationship, the co-existence and interdependence of these elements remained largely unexplored. This research focuses on ceramic craft making in Jingdezhen, where traditional and creative crafts coexist. We employ ethnographic research to comprehend the connotation of traditional and creative crafts, examining them from the perspectives of engagement and detachment. In doing so, this study challenges oversimplified narratives that undervalue the making role of traditional craft and position creative craft as a means for self-expression and resistance against alienation. Instead, we emphasise the complex relationship between the two, characterised by mutual dependence and mutual detriment. These findings partly stem from the predominance of detachment in traditional crafts, which prioritise the act of making and, to some extent, maximising efficiency. They also relate to the prevalence of engagement in creative craft, where the pursuit of creativity is supported by traditional crafts.