Homo Faber, An Exciting Encounter with Creativity and Craftsmanship – For 14-30 September at Fondazione Giorgio Cini, you are invited to step into the magnificent Cenacolo Palladiano for an encounter with eight truly meaningful objects, the expression of the creativity and craftsmanship of some of Europe’s finest designers and artisans. Specially commissioned for Homo Faber © Michelangelo Foundation, each object is the product of the imagination of a world-class international designer working in collaboration with an artisan specialised in specific materials or techniques in a particular part of Europe. Briefed by renowned Italian architect Michele De Lucchi, each pair created an object with an interior inspired by the spiritual notion of the tabernacle, a residence or dwelling place. The result is eight very different objects which nevertheless share a single aim: to tell a story by using the hands of the artisan to translate the imagination of the designer into shape and form.

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Alfredo Häberli & Roman Räss, Switzerland

Räss is a master of the traditional Swiss technique of Weissküfer, in which wood is bent and shaped to make equipment for dairy farmers. Zurich-based designer Häberli set out to create a structure that would harness this technique but challenge Räss to push his skills to the limit.

Photo credits: Homo Faber © Michelangelo Foundation

Ingo Maurer & Enno Lehmann/Martin Deggelmann, Germany

Munich-based lighting designer Maurer wanted to showcase the skills of his regular collaborators. His metal egg was pounded into shape by young craftsmen at Deggelmann’s artisanal metalwork company Martelleria, before the interior was painted by pigment expert Lehmann.

Ingo Maurer

Photo credits: Homo Faber © Michelangelo Foundation

Adam Lowe /Francesco Cigognetti & Factum Arte, Spain / UK

Lowe, the British director of Factum Arte, used his cabinet in casted salt to showcase the incredible work of artisans at his Madrid-based company, which merges digital technology with craftsmanship to create and recreate stunning works of art.

Oscar Tusquets Blanca & Pere Ventura Sala, Spain

Tusquets Blanca’s design for a leather pyramid harnessed the skills of master leatherworker and saddlemaker Ventura Sala, who combines traditional and digital techniques to make exceptional objects in his Catalonia workshop.

Photo credits: Homo Faber © Michelangelo Foundation

Piotr Sierakowski & Andrzej Dobrowolanski/Jakub Przyborowski, with Pola Dwurnik, Poland

Paris-based Sierakowski drew on the skills of contemporary artists and artisans of his Polish homeland to create a wooden drinks cabinet with marquetry inlay. Collaborating closely with two carpenters and a figurative painter, his vision evolved as they discussed the best solutions for the project together.

Ugo La Pietra & Giulio Candussio, Italy

Architect and designer La Pietra designed a cabin-like structure to showcase the incredible skills of Italian mosaic master Candussio, who works with hard and semi-precious stones gathered around his Spilimbergo home and further afield.

Photo credits: Homo Faber © Michelangelo Foundation

Marcel Wanders & Wilma Plaisier of Heinen Delfts Blauw, The Netherlands

Innovative Dutch product designer Wanders teamed up with a renowned producer of Delft Blue pottery for his object, creating a thoroughly contemporary vase for master artisan Plaisier to paint in the traditional Delfts Blue style.

Photo credits: Homo Faber © Michelangelo Foundation

Martine Bedin & Dominique Monié/Jean-Luc Cesses, France

Monié and Cesses are master gold leaf artisans from the south of France. Regular collaborator Bedin imagined a tabernacle that would reveal the beautiful colour variations in gold leaf, bringing movement to the object as it catches the light.

Photo credits: Homo Faber © Michelangelo Foundation

Take a look now at unique works that reveal the power of the hands:

Intriguing, unusual, beautiful, each of these eight objects pays homage to materials and techniques used by artisans working around Europe today, from gold leaf in France to hard stone mosaic in Italy and leather in Spain. Viewed together as a collection, they reflect the diversity of artisanal and design skill in contemporary Europe and the fruitful dialogue between them. As you explore these wonderful objects, each dramatically lit from within and above and mounted on a pedestal, you’ll discover how long-held artisanal techniques can be influenced and improved by contemporary innovations, and vice versa.

CasAperta: L’ultima luce

Photo credits: Homo Faber © Michelangelo Foundation

This wooden cabin is covered externally by rough marble and stone mosaic, with a contrasting interior of polished golden stone.

Starry Pyramid

Photo credits: Homo Faber © Michelangelo Foundation

This leather pyramid has a coarse exterior and a delicate interior, with light projected from below through a pattern of small holes in the leather.

Celeste Blue

Photo credits: Homo Faber © Michelangelo Foundation

This drinks cabinet has a marquetry inlay in two types of exotic wood and its exterior is painted in a swirling blue style evoking the natural pattern of malachite.

See Also:

THE PASSION AND THE FUTURE OF CRAFTSMANSHIP AT HOMO FABER

THE GRAND OPENING OF VENICE’S HOMO FABER EVENT IS FINALLY HERE

♦ London Design Festival 2018 ♦

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Source & Photo credits: Homo Faber © Michelangelo Foundation