To honour Loewe's origins as a collective craft workshop established in 1846, the Loewe Foundation held its inaugural Craft Prize competition in 2016 to showcase and celebrate modern craft excellence and has since become an annual tradition.
The House seeks to recognise the significance of craftsmanship in contemporary culture by appreciating talent, vision, and innovation. "Craft is always going to be modern. It is about creating objects that have a formula of their own and speak their own language, creating a dialogue that didn't exist before. It is about newness as much as it is about tradition," says Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson.
Just like the previous years, Loewe Foundation has opened up submissions for the next instalment of the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize—submissions will be accepted until 30 October 2024. Working in a craft-based profession and above 18? Congrats! You're eligible to apply, and the eventual winner will be awarded with EUR50,000, while two special mentions will each receive EUR5,000.
The award ceremony will then be held next spring at the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum in Madrid and a distinguished panel of artists, essayists, and curators will judge the submissions, selecting a shortlist of 30 entries. Their decisions will be based on criteria such as originality, clear artistic vision, exceptional craftsmanship, material excellence, innovative value, and distinct authorial mark.
For the most recent edition of the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize saw Andrés Anza's "I only know what I have seen" claim the top spot. The sculpture was crafted from glazed refractory clay adorned with countless small, pointed protrusions that drew inspiration from organic forms. Its quasi-human presence is a blend of figurative and abstract elements, appearing to twist and fold inward upon itself.
In addition to the prize winner, the jury also recognised three special mentions: "Still Life" by Miki Asai, was praised for its intricate and monumental essence by using lacquer and eggshell fragments;
"#16" by Heechan Kim who crafted a sculptural vase using traditional boat-making techniques;
and lastly, "Coffee Table 'Comme un lego'" by Emmanuel Boos that's made from porcelain bricks that can be individually removed from the structure.
Apply for the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize here.
We know Gillman Barracks as a colonial barracks and then as an arts cluster. But there are more to the area than just contemporary art galleries. For one, there is The Southern Depot, where it's all about crafts, cycling, wellness and lifestyle.
The Southern Depot seems like a prime pit-stop and landmark in-line with Gillman Barracks' vision as a vibrant creative arts enclave. Painting itself as an event space, The Southern Depot hosted a slew of activities and workshop when it opened in early March. It was a weekend event that featured vendors like Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, KultBespoke, HeartyPlayFam, Re-store and more.
Embracing the ethos of "Cycles, Craft, and Community", the creative hub fosters dynamic partnerships with local lifestyle brands and carefully curates eco-conscious workshops. Aside from weekend craft markets, visitors can also visit the DIDI Lifestyle area, where you can peruse a wide array of two-wheelers in their showroom (hell, try for a test ride!) or patronise their on-site partners like Weber Grill Academy (getcher grilled meats on!), Kaffa Bella (getcher caffeine on!) and Little Island Brewing Co (getcher beer on! Responsibly!).
Tune in for more curated programmes and installations from weekend markets, seasonal pop-up events and co-working spaces. Goh Kian Sin, Executive Chairman of DIDI Group and owner of The Southern Depot says, “We have many programmes and partnerships in the pipeline, and are looking forward to introducing a unique experience for visitors to discover the limitless potential of The Southern Depot.”
So, if you feel fatigued by the art (or the GD sun), step into The Southern Depot for a spell. Have a drink or some food and even partake in one of their many cultural events.
Lately, with fibre craft on the rise, knitting and crocheting have been the new trend. The laborious craft requires huge dedication and commitment from craft artists. But the final results are testaments to the artists' passion and creativity.
Prominent local crochet artist, Kelly Limerick, is celebrated for her alternative take on the ancient craft of crochet. She was chosen to collaborate with LOUIS XIII to create an artwork called "100", which took four months to complete. Limerick journeyed to the LOUIS XIII Domaine du Grollet Estate in Cognac, France for inspiration for her art. There, she delved into the heritage of LOUIS XIII Cognac, allowing her to comprehend the values that the House holds. She became enthralled by the House’s timeless heritage.
“The sense of history in the old town was unmistakable, and... I grasped why LOUIS XIII is steadfast about its origin and identity,” Limerick noted. “There's an evident pride in the meticulous approach, a serene and unwavering dedication to savoir-faire passed down from one cellar master to the next. Ageing the eaux-de-vie holds an element of unpredictability... It falls upon the cellar master to trust their palate, sampling the diverse eaux-de-vie to craft the familiar blend of LOUIS XIII that we recognise. These two elements—trust in the unknown and confidence in personal skill—resonate with me and have inspired me greatly.”
"100" was unravelled and reworked 100 times to illustrate the progress in time. With its tedious craft-making process, "100" is meant to emphasise the similarity to the laborious production of LOUIS XIII. Limerick confessed that "it involved four months of daily dedication; more time and effort required than if I did 100 individual pieces."
The final sculpture resembles a vessel with a double-walled bowl within. Crafted as a single piece without joins or internal structures, like a fountain, the sculpture remains hollow. By holding soil from Cognac, it encapsulates the flavourful layers of LOUIS XIII as it ages. This is a cognac that could only be tasted decades later.
Anne-Laure Pressat, Executive Director of LOUIS XIII Cognac shares that “We are honoured to collaborate with Kelly Limerick, having her join us in exploring intertwined concepts of time and preserving artistic heritage for future generations..."
"100" represents THE DROP, the latest product by LOUIS XIII. An embodiment of a new generation that reinvents luxury codes through ownership, THE DROP fosters a unique 'art-de-vivre' akin to Limerick's approach toward art. Coming in a 1cl bottle, THE DROP retails at Tatler Bar at SG$288 and SG$1,440 for a pack of five 1cl bottles. The add-on lanyard accessory with a leather bottle case is priced at SG$168.
