A Theory of Craft, Function and Aesthetic Expression

In this book Risatti asks, what is a craft object? What distinguishes it from fine art or design? He also discussed function in depth. This is all very relevant to me as I try to understand the position of my work.

Risatti discusses function,

"the change from insisting that an object literally function to allowing for one that is about function but but need not actually function is a very dramatic and fundamental shift in the craft thing itself is understood" (Risatti 2007:285)

Risatti suggests these 'craft things' should be thought of as 'critical objects' (Risatti 2007:285). I think this could be a very useful way for me to approach my work.

He believes that nonfunctional craft objects can be used to explore the discipline of contemporary crafts and show that "function need not be taken literally" because,

"Function can be abstract and metaphorical without the object necessarily losing its identity because, even if abstract and metaphorical, function is still the subject matter of the work; it is still around function that the object springs forth into the viewers consciousness. This springing forth from function is an example of what it means for an object to be critical within the field of craft." (Risatti 2007:288).

"Studio Craft encompasses a wide rage of possibilities from functional works that continue tradition and make historical references through technique, form, and material to works that are nonfunctional, what I call the "critical objects of craft". Despite being nonfunctional, one shouldn't presume these critical works are sculpture. As I have argued, they too are deeply involved in the techniques, materials and forms of traditional functional crafts. Moreover, they are tied to the concepts of craft whose meanings they explore most often by using the oppositions "function present/function absent" or "function offered/function denied" as a conceptual strategy. In this way such works operate as critical objects from within the field of craft and thereby continue craft's historical practice as an expressive endeavor like no other." (Risatti 2007:302).

RISATTI, Howard. 2007. A Theory of Craft. The University of North Carolina Press.