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From ceramics to sculpture, embroidery to illustrations, and from furnishing objects to fashion and jewelry, these are just some of the languages brought together by Homo Faber 2024, hosted in the beautiful spaces of the Giorgio Cini Foundation on the Island of San Giorgio.
The exhibition is the flagship project of the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, a non-profit organization co-founded in 2016 by Johann Rupert and Franco Cologni, based in Geneva. The Foundation has successfully gathered 800 magnificent handcrafted objects made by over 400 talented craftspeople—both established and emerging—from over 70 countries. While we all loved the setup of the previous edition, the immersive scenography imagined by Art Directors Luca Guadagnino and Nicolò Rosmarini is truly exceptional. It faithfully interprets and explores this year's theme: The Journey of Life. Guadagnino utilized a sheer amount of pleated velvety fabric to pay homage to Carlo Scarpa’s 1953 design for an exhibition in Sicily, along with mirrored surfaces and a vibrant crayon color palette, creating an experience that makes visitors feel part of the exhibition.
The magnificent spaces of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, with their stunning gardens and architecture, have been enhanced with bespoke plants and flowers by landscape designer Antonio Perazzi, providing the perfect frame for this artistic journey.
Visitors embark on a journey through human life as seen through the lens of craftsmanship, exploring how craft supports us throughout our existence and beyond. Each object serves as a portal to the stories, cultures, lives, and experiences with which we connect emotionally. From birth and travel to love stories, dreams, and the afterlife, the exhibition offers unprecedented insight into the craftsmanship behind the objects that accompany life’s most precious moments. The curatorial endeavor highlights quality in every skill, and the sheer craftsmanship on display is breathtaking. Guests have the unique opportunity to meet artisans, understand their motivations, and appreciate the significance of their work. Many rooms feature workstations where artisans practice their craft, patiently answering questions about watchmaking, jewelry, globe-making, and embroidery. These small ateliers bridge the gap between the physical and personal manifestations of craftsmanship, which is essential to fully appreciating what we see.
The NextGen educational outreach program adds an important level of humanity to the experience, bringing personal perspectives and engaging young minds in the global practice of craft. The Foundation has enlisted 65 students and graduates from 43 colleges in 25 countries to act as cultural mediators for the exhibition, signaling hope for the future of this sector.
This "journey" emphasizes how craftsmanship has the power to foster a more human, inclusive, and sustainable future. It celebrates the endurance of human knowledge and the values inherent in the practice of craft, such as responsibility, circularity, connection, repair, resilience, and localism. Behind every piece lies the story of the artisans, their trades, and businesses. Women make up a significant portion of this workforce, promoting a more equitable world. Ultimately, these handcrafted objects serve as heirlooms that transfer cultural and sustainable values across generations, cherished and passed down to future heirs.
The journey commences with Birth in the beautiful Cypress Cloister, a space with an enveloping shape that serves as a womb. Here, the centuries-old Game of the Goose is recreated in 60 magnificent embroidered panels. Invented in Italy during the Renaissance, this dice game developed into the first modern commercial board game, frequently played by families and children. Players progress through the game based entirely on the whims of a dice roll, landing on squares that may be fortuitous or hazardous. In this way, the game symbolizes the unpredictable nature of life, where initiation often emerges from chaos and possibilities. Reimagined by artist Nigel Peake and set in Venice, 20 ateliers and independent artisans from around the world each handmade three squares of the game in unique embroidery styles. Representing destinations from Mexico to Rwanda to India, these talented craftspeople have interpreted the panels in original ways while adhering to a fixed design and color palette, resulting in a cohesive yet creatively diverse whole.
As visitors pass through a corridor lined with speakers playing different melodies, they arrive in the Childhood room, a period during which our relationship with craftsmanship is established. This space illustrates how handcrafted objects help us play, learn, and explore ourselves and the world, sparking joy that often endures into adulthood. Expect a sensory spectacle featuring toys, games, and childhood memorabilia from around the globe, from the minimalist lines of Northern designs to elaborate dollhouses and pinball machines. Functional objects invite interaction, encouraging reflection on the importance of maintaining a sense of playfulness throughout life.
As we grow, we Celebrate our milestones, and it’s no wonder that we honor life’s major events with handcrafted objects that enhance our tables. Imbued with meaning, our finest cutlery, inherited silverware, and treasured table decorations express the care and respect we feel when gathering with loved ones for joyful occasions. From birthdays and anniversaries to weddings and dinner parties, the act of sharing food unites families and friends, a practice that has remained timeless throughout the ages. In the beautiful refectory of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, a stunning 22-meter durmast table honors objects from around the world that facilitate celebrations and the art of hosting. Decorative centerpieces and candelabras complement tableware and functional objects crafted from a vast array of materials by renowned maisons and independent artisans from India to Burkina Faso, Spain to Japan, and Italy to South Korea. In the vestibule, artisans demonstrate the skills involved in "l'arte della tavola."
Inspired by photographs of the restoration of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, the Inheritance room focuses on the value of inherited knowledge, an enriching aspect of the human experience. A video installation on the ceiling depicts ten artisan families from around the world who pass their craft skills and traditions down through generations. From Italy to Uzbekistan to South Africa, visitors are invited to glimpse the worlds of soap makers, stone inlayers, ceramicists, shoemakers, and doll makers, discovering the tools, materials, and techniques preserved in these family businesses. Beautiful, accomplished objects created by these artisan families and others are displayed in this dimly lit room.
Crossing the garden, we enter the Love room, which is divided into Courtship and Union. Love, whether romantic or familial, between friends or colleagues, constitutes a fundamental part of the human experience, yet it can often be challenging to express. This area explores the essential role craft plays in conveying our emotions through meaningful objects, handcrafted with passion and care. The first space, dedicated to courtship, presents a garden of seduction alive with flowers fashioned from a variety of materials by artisans around the world, showcasing the diverse creativity inspired by this universal symbol of love. Some objects embody the camaraderie and respect shared among artisans, while many exquisite pieces signify the longstanding tradition of using flowers in high jewelry, invariably connected to declarations of love.
The second space within the theme of Love encapsulates the idea of union through exquisite objects that express commitment across different cultures. An embroidered bridal headpiece, heart-shaped wooden stools, vases, and decorative pieces featuring colors and symbols of fertility and togetherness illustrate how love continues to inspire contemporary artisans, regardless of culture or language. Alongside the work of independent artisans, several prestigious maisons present romance-inspired objects and demonstrate the craftsmanship involved in creating and restoring them, enabling visitors to witness the passion and care that go into crafting enduring beauty—all illuminated by custom, monumental lamps.
As visitors transition to the next phase, they will find a beautifully decorated garden, a tribute to Made in Italy: chairs, tables, and sofas by Dante Negro with custom finishes; cushions made from Fortuny fabrics; large tents designed by Guido Toschi; and delightful plants inviting guests to pause and take a break before moving forward.
One of the great pleasures of life is travel, which opens our eyes and broadens our perspectives. In the Journeys Tea Room, visitors will find a space dedicated to exploring the thrill of travel. This immersive area showcases handcrafted items we take on our journeys as well as objects inspired by them, featuring beautifully crafted maps, compasses, astronomical clocks, and adventure gear. A master globe maker demonstrates his craft live, a captivating experience for all. Additionally, the Tea Room offers a menu of dishes inspired by the flavors of ancient trade routes that made Venice famous, with takeaway options available for enjoyment in the nearby garden.
Across the Tea Room, a transparent structure dedicated to Nature reveals the fundamental connection between our lives and the natural world—an enduring source of wonder and inspiration for artists and craftspeople. This space showcases the materials, techniques, shapes, and textures that inspire contemporary craftsmanship and design. Objects crafted from innovative natural materials such as wheatgrass root and eggshell stand alongside pieces inspired by organic forms like seedpods, pebbles, tree trunks, vines, and flowers. An emphasis is placed on creations that promote sustainable crafting practices through recycling and upcycling, with artisans demonstrating their processes.
With a short walk, visitors find themselves immersed in the world of Dreams. Set within the dramatic remnants of the former swimming pool, this imaginative space transports guests into a technicolor dream state, showcasing a selection of masks from varied cultures. Contemporary masks from Finland, Colombia, Iceland, Benin, Bulgaria, and more illustrate how time-honored traditions and local materials inspire artisans to create diverse and imaginative pieces. Whether shrouded in mystery, dramatic, frightening, or comical, each mask evokes the rituals, symbols, and spirituality inherent in human life throughout the ages. This remarkable collection is complemented by a bespoke couture collection that takes center stage, featuring female mannequins dressed in different colors of the same exquisite attire.
Finally, we arrive at the section dedicated to Human Connection, which emphasizes the importance of relationships in our lives and their impact on the future of craftsmanship. This space showcases the results of creative collaborations that bridge generations—between artisans and designers, between masters and apprentices. Stunning objects crafted through a variety of techniques celebrate the relationships that inspired them. Several pieces arise from two of the Michelangelo Foundation’s key initiatives: Doppia Firma, which facilitates collaboration between designers and artisans, and the Homo Faber Fellowship, a unique educational program pairing master artisans with craft graduates. Throughout the room, live demonstrations by artisans from renowned maisons illustrate how collaboration enhances creativity and skill in fields such as watchmaking, jewelry making, and shoemaking.
As the journey of life comes full circle, the exhibition concludes by exploring how we celebrate, commemorate, and mourn the passage of individuals into the Afterlife. Objects associated with death and funerary rites—such as urns, candles, and sculpted coffins—reveal the ancient role of craftsmanship in the rituals surrounding death across various cultures. The space features decorative works inspired by mortality, including skulls crafted from feathers, paper, ceramics, and wax, as well as sculptures utilizing animal bones and insect-themed pieces that evoke the natural cycle of death, transformation, and rebirth.
Homo Faber 2024 is not merely an exhibition; it is a profound exploration of craftsmanship and its significance in our lives. We invite everyone to experience this enchanting exhibition: the last day is September 30th, 2024.
Enjoy your visit!