Homo Faber biennial celebrates contemporary craftsmanship in Venice

The fourth edition of Homo Faber, titled ‘An Island of Light’, is being held from September 1 to 30 at the Giorgio Cini Foundation on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. Under the artistic direction of Es Devlin, the biennial celebrates contemporary high craftsmanship, featuring hundreds of master artisans from around the world.

Among the participants is ceramic artist Maurizio Tittarelli Rubboli, who is presenting ‘Damask Majolica’. The work is a 46 cm diameter parade plate that utilizes the historical luster majolica technique to replicate the texture and light effects of Venetian damask fabric, incorporating floral reliefs inspired by William Morris.

Franco Cologni, President of the Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte, emphasized the importance of handmade creation in the age of artificial intelligence. He described the pursuit of manual skill as a ‘choice of freedom’ and a way to transform talent into a profession, rather than a mere technical exercise.