homo faber celebrates the very best of european craftsmanship

from jewelry to bespoke bicycles, homo faber will exhibit the finest of european craftsmanship with the aim of ‘crafting a more human future’. as well as being a celebration of artisanal excellence, it aims to increase the recognition for master artisans and inspire interest in their skills and talents. as such, the major exhibition is one-of-a-kind and will demonstrate first-hand the incredible skills that machines cannot better.

overlapping with the venice architecture biennale 2018 and presented by the michelangelo foundation, homo faber runs from september 14th to 30th 2018, at the fondazione giorgio cini on san giorgio maggiore island in venice, italy.

bellerby & co globemakers ‘celestial globe’
image © jade fenster
(main image: venice cini foundation, image@ fondazione giorgio cini)

‘homo faber is an expression that was first coined during the renaissance and it captures and celebrates the infinite creativity of human beings,‘ johann rupert, co-founder of the michelangelo foundation, says. ‘the exhibit will provide a panoramic view of european fine craftsmanship but it will nevertheless have a singular undercurrent: what human beings can do better than machines.’

created by a hand-picked group of world class designers, architects and curators, the team behind homo faber – presented by the michelangelo foundation, a swiss-based entity dedicated to supporting craftsmanship – includes michele de lucchi, stefano boeri and india mahdavi. it will be the largest exhibit to date at the fondazione giorgio cini, spanning across nearly 4,000 square meters, and will display a vast range of materials and disciplines, from traditional artisanal skills to exquisite examples of contemporary craftsmanship.

saura vignoli ‘spirale bizantina’
image © cesare baccari

homo faber will offer a truly immersive experience, giving visitors a unique opportunity to see the skilled work of craftsmen and women first-hand. showcasing the close relationship between artisans and their materials, and encouraging interaction between maker and customer, the exhibition is a celebration of the power and value of real human engagement.

bazàn ‘leather bowls’ susanna pozzoli
image © michelangelo foundation for creativity and craftsmanship