The Voice of Object, the theme chosen for ICD #3 this time tries to establish more intense communication between the creator, namely craftsmen and the audience. Both the audience as users and as connoisseurs. This is because the craft object not only has practical functional aspects but also transforms into an object revealing message from its maker. The message was even more diverse and responded to the current situation. It responded to various issues that surround human life. Namely political, economic, social, environmental and of course cultural issues. Many distinguished and smart craftsmen create craft works to express their thought related to current conditions critically. Likewise, environmental issue is become global issues. For instance, the activist of craftivism were knitting for penguins, as one of their forms of protest over the occurrence of global warming or climate changes. That warming has had an impact with the melting of ice in the north pole which of course threatens penguin life.

    On the other hand, many people feel that they understand crafts, because they always associate them with handicrafts. But is it true that we really understand the meaning of craft? Understanding crafts that are rich in traditions, history, quality standards, the word craft can be associated with many meanings, ranging from skills, art, hobbies, therapy, culture, anti-machine and sometimes even counterculture. It is a very interesting thing, because on the one hand with the development of generations, we both see that crafts are expanding in such a way including the DIY Movement, craftivism and the emergence of a “maker culture”.

      When it comes to the common people who always associates crafts with handicrafts, it is not entirely wrong, but now it is no longer appropriate because so many changes have occurred. Craft is a universal language of hand power, it is also a language that does not require many words. A language that transcends the power of creativity and personal expression. As said by Faythe Levine, an assistant curator of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Wisconsin. He believes that craft is craft is anything you want it to be. It’s malleable, wild, and undefinable. That’s because crafts are fluid and eccentric. It has the power to make all things into a real object. Starting from the media, meaning, philosophy and function. In the past, crafts were understood not only as a way of making things by hand, but also a way of thinking through the hands by manipulating and or exploring materials (Nimkulrat, 2010). This understanding is followed by Adamson’s (2007) view that the idea of craft is a way of thinking through a wide variety of activities. In a sense starting from processing mediums, techniques, tools and ideas until finally becoming a work that has a message. Craft is also a commitment to a lifelong conversation with material and process. While style and technique evolve over the course of a maker’s career, craft is that most fundamental desire to feel, articulate, and understand the complexity of our own work.

      That’s where craft object voices its message. It tells stories, speaks and philosophies about the object that results from a contemplation. A craftsman, a maker, is willing to dedicate time, energy, mind and soul to generate substantial work that timeless. On the other hand, a reliable craftsman is also good at responding to situations to be able to create an object that is not only artistic but also in harmony with the soul of the times. When the use of technology is no longer inevitable, its use cannot necessarily replace the existence of the hand skills of a craftsmen. On the contrary, technology is used to support craftsmen in creating sophisticated works. In the sense of how a craftsman can put the existence of technology in harmony with the handprints of a craftsman that is irreplaceable by any machine. The “voice” of a craft object created from the skilful hands of a craftsman is a valuable thing that never be replaced by any machine. It is produced by people with all their common sense, not by a robot without feelings. Craft works resulting from a series of research, contemplation and hard work will be eternal and deeply appreciated by across generations. For this reason, we will always explore all the sensibilities to create craft works that are able to speak up and “creates a voice”.