From beadwork to embroidery, straw weaving to paper craft, patchwork quilts of nomadic tribes to silkscreen prints of agrarian island communities, handicraft techniques and everyday objects inherited through time immemorial have often been sources of inspiration and materials for contemporary artists. Both folk craft and contemporary art originate from humanity’s innate desires for creation, expression, exchange and identity, and are vessels for conveying emotion and reason.

Lining Revealed examines the interactions between folk craft and contemporary art by juxtaposing artworks, handicrafts and archival documents. Through the critical lens and creative manifestations of contemporary art, it reveals the historical, social and cultural significance embodied in folk craft and the role craft plays in reinvigorating contemporary vision. The exhibition also speaks to the importance of contemporary art in the continuity of cultural heritage, such as challenging the over-celebration of the handmade and encouraging us to look beyond the value frameworks and ideologies of modern society to uncover the deeper content and meaning of folk craft.