Venice is hosting Homo Faber (April 10 to May 1), the second international exhibition dedicated to talented artisans from around the world. The event is conceived by a team of renowned curators and designers to showcase an impressive diversity of materials, techniques and skills through live workshops and exhibitions of handcrafted objects. Explore over 400 unique objects created by over 350 designers and artisans from 30 countries.
This year, artisan treasures from Europe and Japan will be presented in 15 venues. The exhibitions are designed to highlight the role of crafts in creating a more sustainable and inclusive future. Everything from functional everyday objects to outstanding decorative objects can be seen here. The main venue is located in the Fondazione Giorgio Cini on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, and, as before, the festival is supported by the private Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship.
The focus is on the work of Japanese artisans, whose time-honored skills are now a source of great interest. Here, you can see the work of 12 of the country's finest craftsmen, who will amaze you with exquisite porcelain, lacquered harps, hand-dyed kimonos, and more. Rinko Kawauchi's immersive photography exhibition takes visitors behind the scenes into the secret workshops of esteemed master craftsmen.
The curators emphasize the festival's connection with the philosophy of sustainability. It is largely initiated to ensure the viability of crafts, to preserve them for the future - and therefore an important part of the program is aimed at educating and engaging different age groups.
The organizers have also included a new format based on interactive digital initiatives, scenography, and live demonstrations of craft techniques. Visitors are invited to explore the links between contemporary craftsmanship and the wider world of art and design. In one exhibition space, global luxury brands will demonstrate the process of creating their products; in another, crafts will be combined with a theatrical journey based on the production of the opera Madame Butterfly, directed by Robert Wilson. In the tea room, visitors are invited to reflect on the connections between the work of craftsmen and our everyday lives.
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