Craft art is able to give artistic touches to an object. With this touch, an object has its own aesthetic or soul value. This is because the art of craft is made directly by human hands. Unlike machine-made objects, a craft is able to bring out its natural beauty. Even though they are made of the same material and shape, a metal or silver will be a piece of jewelry that still has differences. Likewise with pottery, although made with the same shape, each size of the sculpture must be different. Indonesia has a lot of local wealth, including handicraft or craft products. The potential wealth of raw materials owned by Indonesia is one of the factors to advance the creative economy.
The creative economy relies on resources as the main capital, especially the process of creation, creativity, expertise, and individual talents. Crafts in Indonesia is one of the sub-sectors that characterizes the Indonesian nation. Currently, the craft is still being developed. Judging from the potential, Indonesia’s basic materials are still very much like wood, metal, leather, glass, ceramics, and textiles. In addition, more and more creative actors are entering the field of craft or handicraft arts.
The development of Indonesian crafts
Here are three groups of craft arts and examples:
Traditional Crafts
Occurred during the Hindu-Buddhist kingdom, where techniques and works of art were made according to the philosophy of life and religion. Several works of art from that era and still survive to this day, such as wood carving, silver, batik, keris, wayang kulit and wayang golek, goldsmiths, and mask crafts.
Folk traditional crafts
A handicraft made in accordance with the customs and the surrounding environment. Using materials and tools that are around the community’s residence. For example, woven (mat), pottery, metal, and masks.
New Indonesian craft art
At this time Indonesia is getting knowledge that puts forward rational and commercial. So that the handicrafts made according to the existing market. In this era, many crafts were integrated into traditional and industrial arts. It is also used as an applied art and decorative art.
–sh
