Bottega Veneta is on a mission. For the third year in a row, it’s holding Bottega for Bottegas, an initiative that gives visibility to small artisan studios, providing them with a platform to share their expert creations with the world. Rooted in the integral place that bottegas—or artists’ workshops—have in Italian culture, the project is Bottega Veneta’s way of supporting its fellow craftsmen as one of the world’s most prominent bottegas.
The first iteration of the initiative saw bottegas from Italy taking centre stage, while the second highlighted bottegas from around the world that drew inspiration from Italian culture. This time, the spotlight will be on four distinct bottegas across the globe, each a master of a unique craft. With expert creativity and inimitable skill, they draw inspiration from tradition—crafting pieces that encourage togetherness and inspire imagination through celebrated histories.
Cheng Tsung Feng
Among Taiwanese artist Cheng Tsung Feng’s works, you’ll find towering structures inspired by traditional fishing traps, pavilions that reinterpret the image of sailboats and a deep exploration into the intricacies of bamboo. In an effort to preserve the methods used to create handmade objects of the past, he studies traditional craft and areas of culture prone to being forgotten, translating them into new and modern forms. At the intersection of craft and architecture, his works hold within them disappearing techniques, countless stories and centuries of tradition.
Kitai Rhee
Traditionally, a bangpae yeon, or a Korean fighter kite, is fashioned from bamboo sticks and hanji, a traditional Korean paper made from the bark of mulberry trees. In a technique dating back to the Joseon dynasty, gelatinous glue used to put the kite together is made from cowhide or fish maw, and only natural dyes are used to give the pieces their vibrant colours. Today, the last remaining place you can find bangpae yeon being crafted using the traditional method is in Kitai Rhee’s studio. A third-generation kite-maker, he is also the president of the Kitai Rhee Kite Preservation Association, and dedicates himself to nurturing the successors of the craft.
Modiano
For over a century now, Modiano has created some of the finest playing cards in the world. A historic Italian bottega, the company marries advanced technology with a loyalty to traditional craft in order to create a humble deck that unites friends and professional players alike. As part of Bottega Veneta’s pre-spring collection, an exclusive set of Modiano cards—gorgeously designed with artful illustrations—arrives in a limited-edition leather envelope.
Liu Wenhui
One of the most impressive hallmarks of traditional Chinese architecture is undoubtedly dougong, a structural method consisting of interlocking wooden brackets, entirely forgoing the need for nails or glue. A technical marvel, it gives rise to beautiful, complex forms that have become integral to Chinese culture, seen in the walls of its temples and palaces. It is this precise technique that inspires Liu Wenhui’s work. Taking from the country’s rich architectural history, he designs mortise and tenon building blocks, preserving the intangible cultural heritage of Chinese woodwork and making it accessible for a wider audience to appreciate.
Order your copy of the January/February ‘Intentions’ issue of Vogue Singapore online or pick it up on newsstands now.
