Fondazione Giorgio Cini is the site of this year's Homo Faber.
Photo: Simone Padovani, courtesy of Michelangelo Foundation
How the Homo Faber Biennial in Venice Is Putting Craftsmanship into Focus
Taking place September 1 to 30 in Venice, the showcase features hundreds of artisans from around the world selected by a panel of craft experts
Luca Guadagnino’s films captivate viewers with interiors that become characters themselves, as anyone who’s seen the sun-drenched Italian villa in Call Me by Your Name can attest. For his latest venture, the award-winning auteur brings that expertise to Homo Faber, the biennial exhibition curated by Switzerland’s Michelangelo Foundation that focuses on contemporary craftsmanship and creativity indesign, serving as its art director.
A ceramic vessel by Peter Olson. Photo: Courtesy of the artist.
A biophilic chair by Liam Lee. Photo: Courtesy of the artist.
Taking place September 1 to 30 in Venice, the showcase features hundreds of artisans from around the world selected by a panel of craft experts. Operating under the theme “The Journey of Life,” Guadagnino, in tandem with architect Nicolò Rosmarini, a project manager in his interiors studio, will stage objects organized into ten categories (among them Childhood, Celebration, and Afterlife) at the city’s Fondazione Giorgio Cini, housed in a 16th-century Benedictine monastery on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore.
On view will be acoustic installations by Studio Vocum, a joint project between acoustician Adam Foxwell and ceramist Pierluigi Pompei, as well as biophilic furnishings by Liam Lee, a designer from Brooklyn who specializes in fantastical hand-felted creations. Another highlight promises to be porcelain vessels by Philadelphia-based maker Peter Olson, whose practice merges ceramics and photography.
An installation by Studio Vocum. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Homo Faber in Città takes over venues throughout the city with special experiences centered on craftsmanship, entertainment, and gastronomy. Yet for all the reasons to attend in person, a trip to Italy isn’t required. A selection of the modern heirlooms displayed in the show will be available through Via Arno, a new platform from Swiss luxury goods company Richemont.
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2024 Fall Issue under the headline “Treasure Island.” Subscribe to the magazine.
Cover: Fondazione Giorgio Cini is the site of this year's Homo Faber.
Photo: Simone Padovani, courtesy of Michelangelo Foundation
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