Recipe for a Revivalist

I have an inherent trepidation for the use of this word - 'Revivalist', especially in the craft space.

Somehow it always made me cautious and seemed to hold a lot of undue gravitas. Not unfounded, when I realized that its dictionary meaning is very appropriately different from its colloquial usage.

A revivalist in its purest form is defined as one who conducts religious revivals. One who actively pursues, a religious re-awakening or restoration to spiritual ideas/orthodoxy.

It is interesting to see it lose its original meaning and a very inappropriate replacement with words in the spectrum of patriotism to fanaticism. Where, how, and by whom were these boundaries defined or crossed?

Getting back to 'revivalists' in the crafts sector, it amuses me no end to see it being used freely, openly, and in the highest regard without much ado.

A prominent figure, William Morris, in the Arts and Crafts Movement sought to revive traditional craftsmanship and design in the late 19th century. The term 'craft revivalist' came about as an outcome to the Arts and Crafts movement, which emerged in the mid-19th century as a reaction against the Industrial Revolution.

From then to now it has had many who have done stupendous work to earn it and many who have taken it as a glorious title based on little. The abject misuse of the term has led it to become an almost cringe word and has joined the abused and exploited list of words such as sustainable and organic.

In another meaning it is defined as “one who revives or restores something disused”. In a manner of speaking it really today seems nothing short of someone reviving their bruised egos or frustrations of lost opportunities and underwhelming accomplishments.

I have been witness to conversations where new entrants into the craft sector without batting an eyelid call their diploma projects a revival project and there are society woman who wish to be redefined as revivalist!

There was a time when the phrase 'culture-vulture' had become very strong and in spite of its positive connotation was made a mockery of. Anything that takes on the meaning of a fad is bound to lose its sanctity. The 'revivalist' is the new fad that is losing all its meaning and the real ones are shying away to be called out as one, as it becomes commonplace and delusional.

A beautiful word stemming from 'revive' and a great movement to bring back lost art and crafts will never lose its true purpose. It only suffers the bastardisation of its over-usage and lackadaisical borrowing by the wasted or those in a rush to claim.

A craft restoration merits a very in-depth research, meticulously archiving its trajectory, tracing the path it has taken or not and then working towards restoring it back to its original form. And definitely aiming to showcase the undistorted original form before it can be presented to the world as a reinvention. If this sounds overwhelming, it is meant to! It does mean a lot of years of consistent and relentless work before the work or the worker can claim the titles.

Here’s to all the beautiful work being done in reviving craft and hoping for the times to be when the revivalists will work on reviving than being just characterized by intense religious fervor and a desire to restore or renew faith in their own self.

Penned by Manish Saksena