Exhibition: Power of Making at the V&A

Carved, shaved, filed and scrapd with a sewing needle and razor knife

Alphabet, Dalton Ghetti, 1990-2005 © Sloan T. Howard Photography

For anyone interested in the art of how materials can be used in imaginative and spectacular ways, the Power of Making exhibition at the V&A in collaboration with the Crafts Council, curated by Daniel Charney is compelling.

Power of Making is a cabinet of curiosities with over 100 exquisitely crafted objects ranging from a life-size crochet bear to miniature pencil-tip sculptures to a dress made with over 100,000 adamantine dressmaker pins.

Designed to encourage visitors to consider the role and process of making in our lives, the exhibition examines and celebrates the expertise, knowledge and innovation demonstrated in objects, supporting the importance of traditional making skills and the drive towards new ways of working.

Here are a few of my other personal highlights at the exhibition:
 

A cross-stitch embroidered by Major Alexis Casdagli whilst he was a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II. In the border of what looks like random dots and dashes, he stitched a message in Morse code: “God Save the King, F*** Hitler.”

 ‘God Save the King, F*** Hitler’, Major A. T. Casdagli RAOC, 1941 © Captain A. T. Casdagli

Incredibly realistic 'sculpted baby cake', Michelle Wibowo. 2006 ©www.michellesugarart.co.uk

‘Picking Daisies’ glass hand grenade, Layne Rowe. 2011 © Layne Rowe

Created with metal coat-hangers

‘King Silver’ gorilla sculpture, David Mach RA, 2011 © Private Collection, photographer Richard Riddick thedpc.com

‘Widow’ dressmaker pin dress, Susie MacMurray, 2009, Loaned by Manchester Art Galleries © Ben Blackall 2011

Power of Making at the V&A museum

Open until 2 January 2012 in the Porter Gallery
Open daily 10.00 – 17.45 and until 22.00 every Friday