Arts & Crafts_Magazine

Arts & Crafts
Authentic Maldivian Handicraft
PRODUCTS’S
HISTORTY
EXHIBITIONS
ON GOING
PROJECTS
MALDIVIAN
2016 CULTURE
“Non-existence of a
regulatory policy
framework to protect
the industry”
“Expansion of production
outlets with
modern facilities”
“Conduction of technical
training programmes
using modern
techniques”
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INTRODUCTION
މެނޭޖަރ ޕޮއިންޓް‏ އޮފް‏ ސޭލް‏ ސޮފްޓްވެއަރ
Since the 1970’s, the local crafts industry
has faced continuous decline
with the mechanisation of fishing
boats and the emergence of tourism,
which brought with it alternative employment
opportunities. Today, local
crafts are confined of vendibility in a
tourism market which is increasingly
being flooded with imported souvenirs
and crafts from East Asia . This
limited access to authentic Maldivian
handicrafts in the tourism market results
from lack of transport and marketing
networks, high costs of production
due to traditional techniques
and the non-existence of a regulatory
policy framework to protect the
industry from competition abroad.
In response to the December 2004 tsunami,
UNDP supported several handicrafts
development activities, aimed
at providing the island communities a
means to recover the economic losses
incurred. The initiative focused primarily
on the promotion of sustainable
income generation by engaing in partnership
with the tourism industry. This
partnership opened up avenues; for
the launch of a handicrafts pilot project
in Lhaviyani Atoll, opportunities for
handicrafts training, and replacement
of tools used for handicrafts making
that were damaged or lost to the tsunami
in Dhaalu, Thaa and Laamu Atoll.
CONTANTS
LACQUER & WOOD
STONE & MAT
JEWELLERY & PYROGRAPHY
COIR ROPE & FABRIC
CRAFT DHONI & EEKLE
4
6
7
8
10
ޕޮއިންޓް‏ އޮފް‏ ސޭލް‏ ސިސްޓަމް‏
ކޭޝް‏ ޑްރޯވަރ
ބާކޯޓް‏ ޕްރިންޓަރ ރެސިޕްޓް‏ ޕްރިންޓަރ އެކްސެސަރީސް‏
9912070
M. Zareefa | Miriyas Magu | Male’ City
Tel: 960 3002070 | 960 9912070
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LACQUER WORK
With intricate designs produced from
memory and mainly featured on wood carved
objects such as vases and jewellery boxes, Maldivian
lacquer works are a wonder to behold.
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During laajehun, or lacquer work, a piece of
wood is sculpted to the desired form. It is then
coated, layer upon layer, with lacquer of differing
colours. Black, Red and Yellow are the colours
most prominently used traditionally – green is also
sometimes used while gold and silver dust are used
to add appeal to select works. Once the lacquer
coating is finished it is polished with dry coconut
leaves. The design, which is rarely preplanned
yet always exquisite, is then etched by
hand.
WOOD CURVING
The most ancient Maldivian wood
carvings are a wonder to behold – that
a Maldivian craftsman, armed with a few
rudimentary tools could carve, smoothen
and finish such a master work is a testament
to their dedication of the craft.
More recent times have seen a concentration
on smaller hand made wood
carvings such as vases, jewellery boxes
and ornamental dhonis (traditional
boats) – but even though these may be
smaller in size, their artistic value, especially
when supplemented by
lacquer designs, remains intact.
ARTS & CRAFTS | 4
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STONE CURVING
JEWELLERY WORK
Even more so than wood carving,
stone carving brings to light the true
depth of talent and creativity of the
Maldivian craftsman of yesteryear –
the intricate designs found on ancient
burial stones and mosques stand
as proof. Traditionally coral was
used as the main canvas to work on.
Stone carving is considered by many
in the Maldives as a dying art form,
but recent works by emerging young.
Maldivian women have traditionally
been adorned in jewellery by local
blacksmiths. Such ornaments include
fattaru (a silver girdle worn around
one’s hip), fattaru-baé (golden necklace),
ula or keveli (golden bracelets or
wristlets), thakaholi (anklets), angoti (ring)
and mudi (earrings) – these are usually
passed down from generation to generation.
We currently do not have any traditional Maldivian
jewellery in our catalogue at the moment.
However, although the more traditional Maldivian
jewellery may not be readily available today.
MAT WEAVING
It is well established that fine pattern mats, or kunaa, were presented
as royal gifts in ancient times. The Dutch and British governors
of Ceylon were pre-
sented with such
mats by the Sultan of Maldives.
What is most astonishing about
this royal gift is that it is weaved
with the simplest of devices –
the varying patterns are produced
with the aid of a simple
loom and a knife which is used
to slit the screw-pine leaves.
PYROGRAPHY
Pyrography is a relatively new
art form to the Maldivian craftsmen.
The artists, using a heated wire on
wood, create a controlled burn,
making designs in the process.
Much like fabric painting pyrography
has been adapted largely
towards creating art for visitors
to the Maldives. As such
most designs are a fusion of traditional
artistic principles and the
demands of a modern audience.
ARTS & CRAFTS | 6 ARTS & CRAFTS | 7

COIR ROPE
To make a coir rope, or roanu, the
husk of the ripe coconut is buried
in the beach, within reach of the lapping
waves, and left to soak for three to
four weeks. It is then dug up and pounded
– and the fibres extracted. The fibres are
then washed with seawater and left to dry in
the sun. Once dry it is woven into rope by hand.
The size of the roanu depends on its use.
Traditionally, it was commonly used in everyday
life with boats, during construction of traditional
houses, in the making of the traditional hammock or joali, etc.
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FABRIC PAINTING
Works that feature fabric painting are a relatively
new addition to the Maldivian art scene.
With tourism came opportunity to create art
for a different audience – an audience enchanted
by the scenic beauty of the Maldives.
Local artists met this new challenge head
one, some drawing each individual piece
by brush strokes while others created designs
that could be used multiple times.
ARTS & CRAFTS | 8
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CRAFTING DHONIS
Tradition demands that only a team of
craftsmen working in unison may produce a
study wooden Dhoni. One will lead a team of
builders to create this traditional sea vessel
all without a single drawing or written
document – all from memory. The
master craftsman guides the team, and
more often than not, creates a masterpiece
that sails the Maldivian seas.
The arrival of fibreglass have done little to stem
the demand for boats built of timbre – one can still
see several such vessels throughout the country.
EEKLE WORK
Eekle work or Ilosheege Masaikaih, uses only the simples
tool – the artists shaves and shapes the eekle with a
sharp knife, then moulding it to suit his requirements.
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While the traditional tools may have been simple, the modern
craftsmen sometimes chooses to employ additional
tools, fusing the traditional eekle work with other art
forms such as pyrography, to create objects that
are new but still truly unique to the Maldives.
ARTS & CRAFTS | 10
7333509
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Wood
Pyrography
Eekle
Mat
Arts & Crafts
Lacquer
Coir Rope Fabric
Stone
Jewellery
There are several authentically
Maldivian art forms. And one can
produce a multitude of handicrafts
and souvenirs within just
one category
Throughout the ages the talents,
and creativity, of the Maldivian artists
have remained. What has changed
is the medium through which they
most abundantly expressed
themselves.