蜜芽传媒

Technology detaches us from touch and provenance and this, in part, has contributed to the boom in artisanal crafts.

It's a call back to more tactile experiences. We're learning to craft, to forage, to paint, to build; gravitating towards skills which can replace some of the sensory connections from which we've disengaged.

This series is about celebrating existing ability and drawing attention to our own Living National Treasures.

Victoria Hall lives in Norfolk. She is a paper marbler and has been doing it all her working life.

She works out of a workshop near Fakenham in Norfolk where she replicates historic marbled papers to help restore antique books. The marbled papers are made by floating water colours on a slightly viscous liquid prepared from seaweed called carrageen moss and then laying the paper on it to transfer the design.

There are only a handful of people working professionally in this field.

While the Living National Treasure tradition began in Japan - where they also commend buildings and monuments as 'National Treasures' - the celebratory trend has now been adopted by France, Thailand, South Korea and Romania.

Living National Treasures are defined as people who possess a high degree of knowledge and skill in a culturally significant craft.

Producer: Kate Bissell

First broadcast on 蜜芽传媒 Radio 4 in March 2020.

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