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Can the physical resistance of stone or wood be taught through an online screen? How do physical limits and budgets fuel creativity? And as artificial intelligence ushers in an era of “mind-made” objects, how do we ensure that handmade craft does not become a luxury only for the wealthy?
Learning a craft is often romanticised as a beautiful, intuitive process. But as Swedish swordsmith Peter Johnsson points out, true mastery actually means getting comfortable with disappointment, and learning to navigate the constant “mismatch” between the perfect vision in your head and the reality in your hands.
In this episode of Craft Matters, Adriana Campo speaks with three guests, who approach the realities of craft education from different angles.
We hear from Peter Johnsson, a world-renowned master swordsmith; Sébastien Mainil, an architect leading heritage training centres in Belgium to keep traditional building skills alive; and Siyu Liu, an emerging contemporary designer and basket weaver based in Barcelona.
Together, they explore, what it actually takes to master a craft.
In this episode
- Peter Johnsson, Master swordsmith, Sweden
- Sébastien Mainil, Acting Director (Directeur f.f.) at the Walloon Heritage Agency (Agence wallonne du Patrimoine), Belgium
- Siyu Liu, Architect, contemporary designer, and basket weaver, Barcelona
New to Craft Matters? Listen to ll the episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iVoox, and YouTube.
Credits
Craft Matters is a podcast by the European Crafts Alliance exploring the people, policies, and practices shaping craft across Europe — from independent makers to cultural institutions and decision-makers. Through interviews, stories, and field recordings, the series reveals how craft lives, evolves, and contributes to Europe’s economic and cultural future.
Host and producer: Adriana Campo
Continuity announcer: Rachel Kelly
Story editor and dramaturg: Ana Kuntarič Brodersen
Executive producer: Laura Miguel Baumann
Produced by the European Crafts Alliance
Original music featured in the series is The Walking Song by Adam Ben Ezra, from the album Hide & Seek.
Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Furthermore, any views or opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent those of the European Crafts Alliance.
