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Art Book Review: Christopher Frayling ON CRAFTMANSHIP towards a new Bauhaus.

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Christopher Frayling or Sir Christopher Frayling since 2001 when he was awarded a Knighthood for services to Art and Design Education. Frayling was until recently rector at the Royal College of Art and chairman of the Arts Council England as well as the chairman of the Design Council.
He is an historian, writer, designer, award-­?winning broadcaster for both TV and radio and has published an array of books on the arts. Also known for his output as a critic on spaghetti westerns he was also governor of The British Film Institute and a Trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

His new publication ‘On Craftsmanship, towards a new Bauhaus’ published by Oberon, covers the concept of craftsmanship, which has never been more relevant and timely as today.
In this series of linked essays transcribed from his lectures and talks he explores multifaceted themes; through education, history and literature. Written within the contemporary landscape and spoken in the dialect of the digital age he takes an unsentimental look at craft today.

‘On Craftmanship’ offers an introduction into such topics as ‘The Wiener Debate’ by Martin Wiener and discusses the writing of Richard Sennett, Alan de Botton and Professor Matthew Crawford.

He also specifically refers to the works of artists such as Grayson Perry and Damien Hirst. To set the tone of this book his introduction concludes with this statement.

“Skill without imagination is craftsmanship and gives us many useful objects such as wickerwork and picnic baskets, imagination without skill gives us modern art! I don’t agree. And these pieces in their different way try to explain why”

Words: Anne-Marie Milward

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Available in print as well as a Kindle edition www.amazon.co.uk/

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