Before visiting Munnar, I was not aware of the health issues related to tea plantation workers in India. Often foreign media would focus on the working conditions of garment factory workers, yet the problems related to tea plantation workers (primarily female) are largely ignored. Although they are not stuck inside cramped factories [...]

 
I have been a fan of Tokyo-based French architect Emmanuelle Moureaux and her colour-driven architecture for some time. Since 1996, she has been living in Tokyo where she established Emmanuelle Moureaux architecture + design in 2003. I have never actually seen Moureaux's architecture and installations in real life, so I was really [...]

Model room (2003), Olafur Eliasson in collaboration with Einar Thorsteinn
 
Although I have seen Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson's works before, I was still hesitant to visit his "Olafur Eliasson: In real life" exhibition at Tate Modern fearing that it has been overhyped. Then when I went with a friend on one Friday evening [...]

 
Unlike children today, when I think of my childhood, paper played a crucial role in my early days. Aside from drawing on paper, I collected paper bookmarks, writing paper, and stickers; I dressed up paper dolls with my classmates after school; I did origami and paper cutouts; I learned calligraphy and practised [...]

 
I have been wanting to visit paper specialist G . F Smith's showroom since it opened in 2016, but somehow never got round to it. The London craft week provided me the opportunity to visit the showroom as well as the new exhibition 'Beyond Paper – The Craft of Material Making' co-organised [...]

Indigo Hands installation at Coal Drops Yard
 
At the London Craft week this year, many Japanese craftsmen and artisans were invited to take part and showcase their exquisite craftsmanship. Although Japanese craft is highly regarded worldwide, the future of many traditional Japanese crafts is still uncertain due to the lack of younger people [...]

Kala Ghoda
 
Since I stayed not for from the Kala Ghoda district in Fort, I spent much of my time exploring this area, where many cool shops and interesting eateries are located.
One of the coolest shops in the area is Kultre Shop with a focus on contemporary Indian graphic design. The shop serves [...]

 
Top: a visit and demonstration of katagami by the Ise-Katagami artisan Isao Uchida

 
Like I mentioned in my previous entry, my knowledge on traditional Japanese textiles techniques was quite minimal before the workshop. I have done some shibori techniques like itajime and pole wrapping, but I have never done any stitch shibori nor [...]

The scenery from Ullapool to Assynt
 
Scotland is one of my favourite places in the world. I love the landscape, wilderness, people and traditions; however, I am not so fond of its weather – a crucial element that has put me off moving up there. I have been traveling up to Scotland annually [...]

 
 
One of places I wanted to visit in Mino was the Mino washi museum. Yet the museum is located about half an hour's drive from the town centre, and there are no buses that could get me there. After enquiring at the tourist office (inside a washi paper stationery shop), the [...]