London Craft Week at Oxo Tower Wharf 2021

Lines of Possibility: Taiwanese Rush Weaving
until 10 October | gallery@oxo

This exhibition has been specially curated for London Craft Week 2021. Taiwanese rush weaving has a history reaching back over 300 years, originating from the small township of Yuanli in north-western Taiwan. Handicrafts such as rush-woven mats and hats were among Taiwan’s top three exports during the Japanese colonial era and the post-World War II period.

As time went on, Taiwan’s rapid economic development and the rise of mass-produced goods on the island nation caused a decline in the rush weaving industry. However, in recent years, a younger generation of talented young artisans have returned to Yuanli, sparking a renewed interest in this traditional industry and reviving the craft of rush weaving. A new page in the story of Taiwanese rush weaving has thus begun, giving the craft global recognition. FREE and no need to book.

Repair and Heal Workshops at Wagumi
5 – 10 October | unit 1.08 (first floor, riverside)

Kintsugi workshop
Get hands on with the Japanese practice of Kintsugi which gives broken ceramics a beautiful afterlife. Expert practitioner Iku Nishikawa leads the workshops, and will guide you through the principles and techniques of kintsugi. Held in small groups, the workshops offer an accessible introduction to the methods of ceramic repair.

Kintsugi is a process that uses lacquer, sealants and metal powder to trace the lines of a breakage, and create something new. More than a simple act of restoration, kintsugi makes a feature of the cracks formed in a moment of chance. This touches on classic concepts in the Japanese decorative arts, such as the impermanence of things, and beauty in imperfection.

Price: £60
Dates: Saturday 9 October and Sunday 10 October
12:00-13:30 / 15:00-16:30 / 17:00-18:30

Incense-making workshop
Incense is a classic smell of Japan: whether used for temples and shrines, or to simply light the home, the country has a lively industry in scent. In this workshop, get an introduction to the processes of crafting Japanese incense, with the opportunity to make your own..

Price: £30
Dates: Wednesday 6 October and Friday 8 October
12:00:12:45 / 13:00-13:45 / 15:30-16:15 / 16:30-17:15 / 17:30-18:15

*Each Session will take 45 minutes approximately.

Cluster Artists Showcase & Cluster Crafts Book Launch
7 – 10 October | Bargehouse
Discover an immersive and experiential angle to contemporary craft, art and design in this unique multimedia showcase by Cluster London. Enter into Cluster London’s takeover at Bargehouse, for a celebration of contemporary art, including the Cluster Crafts book launch “Soil, Surface, Sky”; a sensory solo exhibition by NYC lighting designer Patrick Nash; and four solo exhibitions as the outcome of Cluster’s artist-in-residence program. It's FREE, you just need to book a space (below).

Clay Workshop with Monica Tong
Saturday 9 October, 1-3pm | unit 1.22

Our newest resident, part of the Oxo Tower Wharf X Arts Thread graduate residency programme. Monica Tong is a ceramicist recently graduated from RCA and sharing her skills through hands-on workshops for London Craft Week.

You will learn fundamental hand building techniques and make your very own object with clay. Your creation will then be glazed and ready to be picked up in two weeks. Price: £40.

When visiting Oxo Tower Wharf be sure to explore the designer-maker studios on the first and second floor where you will find jewellers, milliners, ceramicists, textile artists and more, making and selling their work. Meet our makers here.

For craft lovers, don’t miss the Hand and Lock’s upcoming exhibition at Bargehouse.