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Since 1996, Hamid has been making masks, costumes, tricorns, and accessories for theater, carnival and film productions in the Ca'del Sol atelier, which by now together with his partner Mahima Mercedes and other collaborators has grown to be a Venetian institution. Here they hold classes, trainings, and presentations on the history of carnival and masks for students, travelers, neighbors and the elderly. “We have never stopped for the past 27 years!” says Hamid proudly.
Hamid Seddighi's story begins in 1979, after the Islamic Revolution, when he decided to move to Rome to study architecture. There he served as a children's animator for four years, which introduced him to the world of masks. In 1987, he visited Venice: when he arrived in Campo Santa Margherita, he saw the Mondo Novo mask store, now closed, entered and asked if they needed a worker. His spontaneous application was not accepted until a few months later. One day, during a coffee break from his studies at the Ca'Foscari library in Campo San Barnaba, he was offered a job by the now-friend bartender. He spent a good 9 years in this first atelier, continuing to increase his knowledge and skills in the art of “maschèrer” (mask maker).
When you enter the shop-workshop you are enveloped in a world of colors, sparkles and music: you will find classic Carnival masks such as Bauta and Colombina, but also characters from the comedies of art, with Harlequin, Balanzone, Pantalone and many others. There is no shortage of whimsical and unique designs for wearing, holding or even as home decoration.
The materials used to construct the masks are mainly papier-mâché, leather, ceramics and iron. His invention, on the other hand, is the light and seductive use of starched lace, which allows delicate and essential masks to be made. Once the base is created, the invaluable work of decorating the mask is unfolded, a treasure trove of ancient techniques as much as a theater of inexhaustible inventiveness: gilding in gold leaf, silver, copper, precious fabrics, ribbons, ancient paints, enamels, ground, patinas, Swarovski crystals, lace and feathers.
"I put bits of paper. I start at the edge. First the eyebrows, then the nose and the mouth. One day I make a laughing mask. One day I make a crying mask. One day I make a beautiful mask. One day I make an ugly mask (...) When I put bits of paper on the nose I see that they are breathing and they are alive. But then, maybe they are real and we are masks.” - Hamid
Several collaborations were also established by Ca'del Sol with other artisan workshops, which actively contributed to the revival of interest in the Venetian mask. These joint actions initiated the recovery and reinterpretation of the figure of the maschèrer, a craft that was disappearing.
The attention to tradition, combined with the relentless pursuit of new models makes Ca' del Sol a prominent reality in the Venetian scene: a creative space where artisans express their skills and imagination and are inspired by the conversations and desires of customers.
We invite you to visit the workshop and witness the creation of precious masks, sumptuous historical dresses and accessories for every occasion. You can also try your hand at a mask-making course: during 5 days, you will be guided through all stages of the process. From the creation of the clay model, to the making of the matrix with a plaster cast, to the construction of the mask in papier-mâché, to the decoration of the mask, with an in-depth look at different decorative techniques.