HOMO FABER RETURNS TO VENICE IN 2020

After an overwhelming response to the inaugural edition of Homo Faber. Crafting a more human future, this unprecedented showcase of fine craftsmanship will return to Venice in 2020.

Homo Faber 2018, held at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice from 14th to 30th September 2018, was enthusiastically praised by visitors, artisans, designers, institutions and commentators alike as an inspiring exhibition and an incredible opportunity to discover the very best European craftsmanship made by the finest artisans working today.

The president of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, recognised the importance of Homo Faber 2018 by presenting a commemorative plaque to Franco Cologni, co-founder of the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, which organised the exhibition.

Homo Faber 2018 is the Michelangelo Foundation’s first major undertaking in support of its mission to preserve, promote and encourage fine craftsmanship, showing what can be achieved by the human hand, heart and mind working together to create lasting objects of beauty.

To help achieve these aims, the Michelangelo Foundation is building a network of like-minded institutions, public and private organisations, schools and museums of applied arts and design. More than 70 of these organisations from 26 European countries came together for the first time at Homo Faber 2018 to meet each other and exchange ideas. In the next two years, prior to Homo Faber 2020, they will continue to put forward the best master artisans of their countries and initiate local actions in line with the Michelangelo Foundation’s mission.

Also present at Homo Faber were 105 students of applied arts and design from educational institutions in the foundation’s network, representing the next generation of artisans and designers. Specially selected for Homo Faber’s Young Ambassador Programme, they were tasked with sharing their knowledge and passion with visitors to Homo Faber’s 16 exhibition spaces. For these talented students it was an extraordinary opportunity to build a community with their peers and seek inspiration for their future careers from the master artisans and designers present on site.

Homo Faber was conceived as a cultural exhibition in order to underline the true value of fine craftsmanship. As such, the exhibited pieces were not available for sale on site. However, details of these exceptional objects and artworks, and of the master artisans who created them, are available through an online catalogue found on Homo Faber’s dedicated website, representing a vital part of the Michelangelo Foundation’s aim to support these exceptional artisans by promoting their work to a wide audience.