homo faber 2020 will take place in venice next year due to coronavirus

UPDATE 4/2/2020: due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the michelangelo foundation has decided to postpone the 2020 edition of homo faber. the international cultural event will now take place in venice in 2021. the exact date will be confirmed in may 2020.

‘the founding principle of “homo faber: crafting a more human future” is to place the human, the man and the maker, at the very centre of the event,’ notes johann rupert, co-founder of the michelangelo foundation. ‘this includes protecting not just cherished livelihoods but human beings themselves. therefore, we choose to put the safety and wellbeing of our master artisans and wider community first, and welcome a new event in 2021.’

held in venice, homo faber — the main event organized by the michelangelo foundation for creativity and craftsmanship — celebrates and preserves master craftsmanship around the world aiming to strengthen its connection to design. for its 2020 edition, the event is presenting meaningful artworks by 12 japanese national living treasures in an exhibition called 12 stone garden envisioned by renowned japanese designer naoto fukasawa.

bamboo vase ii crafted by japanese national living treasure noburu fujinuma
image © le van chau gerald

the 12 stone garden exhibition at homo faber 2020 will display deeply meaningful objects created by 12 japanese national living treasures. craftsmanship has been deeply rooted in the japanese culture since the beginning of its artistic history. to safeguard this cultural heritage, the japanese government has been appointing the national living treasures since 1950. they include exceptional master artisans who, with their time-honored techniques, ensure the preservation of traditional japanese intangible heritage.

“blue sea”. silver flower vessel made by hammer work crafted by japanese national living treasure yukie osumi
image © japan kôgei association

the masterpieces of the 12 national living treasures were selected by naoto fukasawa and japanese museum director tokugo uchida. the selection reflects a wide variety of traditional japanese crafts and diverse materials and techniques. visitors will be able to get a closer look at kimonos, an urushi lacquered harp, a bamboo flower basket, wizen ceramics and intarsia wooden boxes among others. behind-the-scenes videos will be a window into the secret processes used to handcraft each object.

‘the mind of a craftsman has to take some responsibility to make sure the history or traditional skill is continued for the future, not just focusing on creating objects,’ comments naoto fukasawa.

bowl with pearlbush design in overglaze enamel and sumi-hajiki crafted by japanese national living treasure imaemon imaizumi XIV
image © japan kôgei association

nekano bowl with moon white glaze (big size) crafted by japanese national living treasure zenzo fukushima
image by naoyuki kondon © michelangelo foundation

food vessel made by bending work crafted by japanese national living treasure isao onishi
image © japan kôgei association

harp “saiyu” crafted by japanese national living treasure kazumi murose
image © moa museum of art

rendering of the exhibition 12 stone garden, curated by naoto fukasawa and co-curated by tokugo uchida at homo faber 2020
image © naoto fukasawa design ltd.