Displaced but connected: the craftmanship that keeps a tradition alive
Nikolaos, born and raised on Lesvos island; a third generation craftsman in weaved baskets.
His craftsmanship is characterized by discipline and meticulous skill, well-rooted in his ancestral knowledge. Resident in Papados, Lesvos he is a victim of the displaced local population that had to flee their home. Nikolaos wanders the streets, weaving baskets to make ends-meat.
The baskets are more than mere artefacts. They are a connection to his ancestry, his culture and the environment. Each bamboo and wicker stick are hand-picked from the island. These are then shaped and sharpened to make the thin forms that can bend and adapt to the desired shape. The raw material is then soaked in water to become malleable and start the weaving process.
Unfortunately, as his lineage ends with him, there aren’t any younger generations to teach and keep this tradition alive. At Human Ark, we support Nikolaos and promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices that can be embedded within the labor market. Not only is this expertise valuable to maintain a skill that will vanish but also an opportunity for a better quality of life.