.jpg)
In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and automation, could the value of craft - human skill, creativity, and the beauty of imperfection - become one of our most treasured assets?
This question stayed with me after experiencing Nufonia Must Fall earlier this year, a live multimedia stage production by Kid Koala, a scratch DJ and multi-genre artist/producer. Adapted from his graphic novel, the show tells a story of connection through puppetry, live music, and real-time filmmaking. It’s a love story between an out-of-work robot and a lonely office worker, brought to life by a team of performers, technicians, and musicians.
There’s a certain irony here - a narrative about a robot, in an era when robotics and AI dominate much of the zeitgeist, was realized through the meticulous effort of human hands.
So what does Nufonia Must Fall tell us about the value of human craft?
Watching the performance, I was struck by its sheer intricacy. A team of 15 puppeteers, musicians, cinematographers, and technicians worked seamlessly across 20 miniature sets, using 8 cameras to capture and project every scene in real time. At the heart of it all was Kid Koala, performing the score live on piano and turntables, accompanied by the Afiara String Quartet.
What made it memorable wasn’t just the technical execution—it was the intentionality behind every detail. From the handcrafted sets to the timing of each movement, and even the mistakes during the performance. It was clear not just how much care went into creating this performance, but also the level of craft required by the performers who have been honing their respective skills for years and years.
It’s this level of dedication that defines craft: a willingness to invest time and energy into perfecting something, even when shortcuts exist.
Craft is inherently slow, shaped by years of practice, experimentation, and refinement. It’s the mastery achieved through dedication and repetition that transforms skill into art. Mistakes and imperfections along the way aren’t just inevitable, hey’re essential, adding depth and character to the final creation. This painstaking pursuit of near-perfection allows us to appreciate human achievements not just as outcomes, but as expressions of artistry.
AI, for all its advancements, can mimic results but cannot replicate the journey, nor can it capture the intangible soul that emerges from years of honing a craft.
Performances, like Nufonia Must Fall, remind us of the emotional connection and sense of wonder that come from witnessing mastery in action.
The moments that will increasingly stand out will be those with a distinctly human touch. Whether in art, music, performance, or storytelling, creations that celebrate patience, care, and individuality resonate because they remind us of the people behind the work and the process of creation.
This isn’t to diminish or invalidate AI’s potential. AI is a powerful tool that allows us to achieve more, faster. But as automation becomes more prevalent, we may find ourselves drawn even more to creations that surprise us with their imperfections and move us with their sincerity.
The emotional resonance of a film will still depend on the director’s vision, and the true appeal of handcrafted furniture will still lie in the unique decisions and ingenuity of its maker. Audiences connect most with work that feels authentic and intentional, where the human perspective ensures a deeper emotional impact. This connection, rooted in a craftsperson’s ability to anticipate and respond to their audience’s needs, transforms their work from functional outputs into meaningful experiences.
So, does the value of craft, human skill, creativity, and imperfection, become more treasured as AI advances? I believe it will. As technology continues to automate more processes and generate outputs with remarkable speed, value will increasingly accrue to the craftsperson - the creator who brings meaning, intentionality, and humanity to their work.
Art’s value will not diminish in this new landscape; in fact, it will likely grow. The pieces and performances that stand out will be those that reflect the individuality and mastery of their creators with AI.
In this way, craft becomes more than a skill; it becomes a statement of human ingenuity in an age of infinite possibility.
