Artistic Heritage: A Global Journey
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Iran: The Persian Rug Expert
While splitting time between New York, Dubai, and Tehran, artist Taher Asad-Bakhtiari finds profound inspiration in the woven work of the Bakhtiari people, to whom he has ancestral ties. His Tribal Weave Project began with collaborations with semi-nomadic Iranian women, focusing on high-piled gabbeh carpets and bold kilims that feature innovative materials like metallic polyurethane, giving a distinct Pop Art flair. ‘I believe the survival of this practice relies on reinvention,’ he explains.
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Mexico: The Heritage Champion
After the rapid modernization of the 20th century, Mexican artisanal products lost their appeal as plastic goods flooded the market and traditional crafts faced extinction. In response, curator Regina Pozo launched Txt.ure, a platform dedicated to reviving disappearing crafts. One notable project established a workshop for a rare family still practicing 1,000-year-old tule weaving, creating a collection of smart stools and benches that reclaim lost artistic legacies.
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Thailand: The Artistic Connector
Thai-American furniture designer Robert Sukrachand sees craft as a universal language that transcends boundaries. Based in Chiang Mai, he aims to bridge cultural gaps by inviting American creatives to collaborate with Thai makers. His projects include producing Buddhist-inspired bells with brass artisans in northern Thailand, demonstrating how artistry can foster cultural exchanges that promote happiness and understanding.
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Taiwan: The Indigenous Weavers
The team behind Kamaro’an, a homeware studio in Taiwan, found common ground through their cultural research and design interests. Their label, meaning ‘a place to live’ in the indigenous Amis language, emerged from a project exploring traditional reed-like sedge and rattan-peel weaving. Their creations, such as sculptural umbrella-sedge lights, aim to honor and perpetuate the rich values of Taiwan’s diverse cultures.
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Algeria: The Nomad Ceramicists
On a journey to his ancestral homeland in Kabylie, Algeria, designer Azel Ait-Mokhtar sought to redefine collaborations between European brands and African artisans. Together with his friend Youri Asantcheeff, they documented their transformative experience with local Berber craftspeople, resulting in Ibkki—an innovative line of vases and bowls that combine traditional Berber craftsmanship with contemporary European design aesthetics.
Keep scrolling for more pictures of creative designs.
