The Homo Faber Biennial in Venice Is Elevating the Art of Design Fairs

“After a visit to the incredibly beautiful Fondazione Giorgio Cini on the Isola di San Giorgio, our first thought was to create a narrative that immerses the visitors in a captivating journey through the spaces, prioritizing the celebration of artisans’ craftsmanship and the products of their dedicated labor,” says Rosmarini. “We developed the project for Homo Faber 2024 inspired by the key points of ‘The Journey of Life,’ expressed by Hanneli Rupert.”

As such, the show follows the trajectory of a life well-lived: from early eras of Birth, Childhood, and Celebration, to the middle years of Inheritance, Courtship, and Union, passing through timeless phases of Journeys, Nature, Dreams, and Dialogues, and ending with the Afterlife. Visitors walk through the exhibition in accordance with this path, as Guadagnino and Rosmarini envisioned, and are invited to spend as much time taking in the staggering breadth of works curated for each section.

“Our aim was to create a harmonious and balanced dance between moments that evoke spectacular emotions through monumental creations and an immersion of the visitors in the spaces where architecture is never concealed but rather emphasized and celebrated, playing a central role in enabling visitors to truly appreciate the power of genuine craftsmanship and artisans’ work,” adds Rosmarini.

Of critical importance to the organizers was not only emphasizing meticulous skill and craftsmanship but also artists who demonstrated a clear vision and respect for human values in their practices. This comes through in an array of media, from glassmaking and earthenware to leatherwork and silversmithing, all produced with exacting technical precision and seemingly boundless imagination.  Additionally, the emphasis of prior editions on Europe and Japan was eschewed for a more diverse approach, with this year’s crop hailing from South Africa, Uzbekistan, China, the United States, Mexico, India, Morocco, Brazil, and beyond.

Bringing the art of craft to life were a series of live demonstrations throughout the halls done by independent artisans and prestigious maisons, among them Vacheron Constantin, Buccellati, Van Cleef & Arpels, Dunhill, and Cartier. Plus, the entire city of Venice became a veritable extension of the show thanks to Homo Faber in Città, which opened the doors to more than 70 artisanal workshops across the city.

“Visiting Homo Faber 2024 will make you feel transported on a continuous journey that grows and changes, amazes and welcomes, disrupts and reassures,” says Rosmarini. “Seeing our ideas come to life through intense study, research, and selection, and conveying them through the spaces, colors, and craftsmanship fills us with excitement and happiness for the experience that will be lived at HF24.”