Homo Faber Biennale opens in Venice to celebrate craftsmanship

The fourth edition of the Homo Faber biennale, titled ‘An Island of Light’, has opened on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. Curated by British artist and scenographer Es Devlin, the exhibition runs until September 30.

Designed as a counterweight to the rise of automation and artificial intelligence, the event showcases approximately 700 handcrafted objects created by over 500 artisans from 70 countries. The exhibition utilizes the architectural setting of the former monastery to highlight the relationship between light, material textures, and human touch. Installations include large-scale mirror works and immersive displays spanning various disciplines, such as sculpture, precision mechanics, goldsmithing, and woodworking.

Organized by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship in partnership with the Fondazione Giorgio Cini and the Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Art, the showcase features a wide range of participants, from luxury brands like Van Cleef & Arpels to individual artisans demonstrating traditional techniques like bamboo sculpting.