Paper craftsmanship: imprinting on our imagination at Homo Faber Event 2022

In a world increasingly dominated by technology and machines, the significance of paper is celebrated in this imaginative and refined exhibition which pays homage to paper crafting – its relevance, its diversity and the human hands integral to the creative processes.

Samurai Warrior crafted by Juho Könkkölä©Juho Könkkölä

• A showcase of paper art and craftsmanship across Europe, envisioned by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi and his studio AMDL CIRCLE
• A diverse and imaginative array of paper artworks reveal the beauty, creativity and cultural significance of paper craftsmanship
• Master artisans demonstrate their artistic ways of working with paper, showing how human emotion can be conveyed through movements of the hand

Visitors to Homo Faber Event 2022 in Venice will look upon paper in a new light. Through the skill, imagination and passion of its crafters, discover how a humble material is transformed into sophisticated artworks by the versatility of the human hand in the exhibition Magnae Chartae.

Paper is a delicate material, yet, if carefully safeguarded, it can withstand centuries to share the narratives of civilisations captured by the written word; it can uphold constitutional laws and change the course of history through the simple gesture of a letter. There is more power to paper than we might acknowledge in this modern world of machines, where perhaps its uses are deemed ever superfluous. Paper is a decorative blank canvas which becomes a creative outlet for writers and artists equipped with pens, paintbrushes, scalpels, printing technology or simply their hands. This deeply meaningful coexistence between the elements is explored in depth in this exhibition.

From intricate miniature paper cuttings to mesmerising sculptures made of thousands of strips of paper, Magnae Chartae pays homage to the diversity and versatility of paper, and the creativity, skill and imagination of those artisans who choose to work with it. Discover the papier mâché bowls of Swedish paper artist Cecilia Levy, made from the pages of old books; the interlocking geometric sculptures of Greek paper folder Zoe Keramea; and the complex origami figures of Finnish artisan Juho Könkkölä, created from a single piece of white paper.

A participatory exhibition, Magnae Chartae invites visitors to witness the skill and artistry of paper crafting first-hand by engaging with master artisans working in the room. Immersive installations will illuminate the wonder of paper, while visitors can also discover the joys of writing with a fountain pen, crafted on site by artisans from Montblanc, known internationally for its exceptional writing instruments.

The exhibition also displays decorated handmade Italian wallpapers, elaborate calligraphy and photographs by Italian photographer Susanna Pozzoli showcasing production at Gangolf Ulbricht’s papermaking workshop in Berlin.

Through this unique showcase of paper crafts, designer and curator Michele De Lucchi, with a wonderful eye for detail and a flair for design, ignites a conversation about the value of paper within cultural contexts, especially today. Visitors will leave with a real appreciation of the care, mastery of technique, respect for materials, passion for process and time that go into finished products of the highest quality.

“Hands are sophisticated instruments. There is a beauty and perfection to the human hand and its capacity to transfer human emotion” – Michele De Lucchi

Participating artisans include:

• Lacy Barry, Germany
• Domitilla Biondi, Italy
• Rogan Brown, United Kingdom
• Victor Cadene, France
• Lauren Collin, France
• Isabelle De Borchgrave, Belgium
• Masayo Fukuda, Japan
• Maria Grigoriou, Greece
• Aline Houdé-Diebolt, France
• Zoe Keramea, Greece
• Juho Könkkölä, Finland
• Asya Kozina, Ukraine
• Anna Kruhelska, Poland
• Guy Leclef, Belgium
• Nolvenn Le Goff, France
• Cecilia Levy, Sweden
• Uroš Mihić, Serbia
• Montblanc, Germany
• Papier Atelier, Turkey
• Daniele Papuli, Italy
• Samantha Quinn, United Kingdom
• Kristina Rothe, Germany
• San Patrignano Design Lab, Italy
• Marc Schweizer, Switzerland
• Marie-Anne Thieffry, France
• Lucie Touré, France
• Sabrina Transiskus, Belgium
• Gangolf Ulbricht, Germany
• Wakasa Atelier, Japan

Magnae Chartae is set in Messina Hall at Fondazione Giorgio Cini. It is one of 15 exhibitions that comprise Homo Faber Event 2022, organised by the Michelangelo Foundation.