Sustaining Lacquer Craft Heritage through Exchange Programs

Abstract

Traditional natural lacquer crafts are declining, and in some societies, they have virtually disappeared. These crafts are an important Asian cultural heritage. As Asian societies evolved, unique lacquer arts, crafts and cultures developed. Skilled artisans transformed simple objects into beautiful and aesthetically pleasing craftwork reflecting each region’s unique cultural traditions and heritage. However, modernization, new materials and industrial processes, changing values and lifestyles have threatened the traditional, often the slower, labor-intensive methods of lacquerware and lacquer craft production. The emphasis on efficiency and commodification is often prioritized over the intangible spiritual, social, and human values inherent in traditional crafts. Does a mass-produced plastic offering bowl hold the same social and communal significance as one meticulously crafted by an artisan who imbues the work with cultural knowledge and spirit?

This study examines the history and growth of the Asian Lacquer Craft Exchange Research Project (ALCERP), its program format and objectives, achievements, challenges, and current research. Based on ALCERP’s experience and collected research, this paper discusses the future of natural lacquer arts and the support needed to sustain and revitalize this remarkable craft, art form, culture, and way of life.