The Art Reclaimed Archive

Whether it’s taking a workshop in a local craft store or listening to ASMR of someone sculpting a block of timber into a cute capybara on TikTok, most of society has been exposed to this craft called wood carving . This historic art form has caught the public’s attention numerous times, be it during the 1700s or the Roaring 20s. But what is it really? Is it merely just cutting into a wooden block, or is it something far more complex?  Defined by Alexander Grabovetskiy’s School of Wood Carving, wood carving is the art of shaping and detailing wood with the use of specific tools in order to create intricate designs and forms. Wood carving can turn an ordinary piece of lumber into remarkable art, from something considered dead to something alive. Through their own works, these artists have been able to convey stories, express emotions, and preserve traditions from history for the ages to come. Every piece is different from the other, each with their own meanings and flaws. In contrast...

It’s a known fact that artworks are prone to deteriorate over time. When a piece of art finally decays, there is no guarantee that that artwork has any records of it existing. It becomes lost . It wasn’t until the creation of the camera that people discovered digitalization. Digitalization entails the photography of a work, which eventually led to the digitalization of art. It is through this development of art digitalization that has provided much help in art conservation and preserving lost art that is on the brink of extinction. Art conservation is the discipline that preserves cultural heritage, artworks, and objects from history. It’s an incredibly crucial role in remembering humanity’s ancestry, since it guarantees the safety and durability of these cultural arts, all while being able to uphold the piece’s original details down to the tiniest brush stroke. The process undergoes examination, documentation, and treatment to be properly preserved, but can be tedious and time-consu...

Puppets. Objects that often resemble a human, animal, or mythical creature, animated by a puppeteer. Puppetry is the ancient form of theater or performance involving said puppets. Puppetry has existed in a variety of cultures for a long time. There has been some debate as to when and where the first puppet came to be. But most people agree that puppets have existed as early as the 5th century B.C. back in Ancient Greece. Today there are many famous puppets known across the globe, such as Kermit the Frog and the Marionette from FNAF. Everyone knows at least one puppet. But I think a certain form of puppetry should be recognized even more. That is the WAYANG . Wayangs are important to Indonesian culture because it connects its people to their history and identity. It’s an interesting craft that has helped bring compelling stories to people worldwide. ORIGINS: Originating from Java, one of Indonesia’s islands, wayang is a traditional form of puppet play. It’s said that the art of sh...