Immerse yourself in imaginative interior design at Homo Faber, 14-30 September

Imagination soars in an immersion of fine craftsmanship and materials in two innovative contemporary spaces at Homo Faber
 
In the world of interior design, traditional fine craftsmanship has enormous potential to shape and inspire. An imaginative designer can harness traditional artisanal skills to create thoroughly contemporary interiors relevant to modern living. For example: 

• Intricate rattan marquetry made by one of the last master artisans to work this technique inspires an abstract of a winter garden that pays homage to painter Henri Rousseau.
• Exquisite handmade embroidery graces the walls of a contemporary living space.
• Precious upholstery so complex it can only be made by hand is used to create bold flourishes of colour evoking the Venice lagoon.

 
Two inspired spaces representing a coming together of fine craftsmanship, know-how and imaginative contemporary design will delight and surprise visitors to the exhibit Imaginary Architecture at Homo Faber in Venice this September. 

India Mahdavi, the renowned Paris-based architect and designer, has devised two contemporary ‘follies’ to show what can be achieved when the finest European craftsmanship is put in the service of imagination. Using fine craftsmanship as her base material, and knowledge as her alphabet, Mahdavi applies her vivid imagination to tell a personal story of her relationship with the worlds of master artisans. The result is two highly inventive spaces that encompass the passion and excellence of artisans and the imagination of a visionary designer. Together, they show that traditional fine craftsmanship does have a place in the modern world, and that traditional artisanal techniques can be used to create exciting new spaces for contemporary life.

The first of the two follies, called Henri Rousseau Forever, is Mahdavi’s homage to the post-impressionist French painter known for his forest scenes. Mahdavi evokes an abstract winter garden through her use of rattan, and shows how the material she loves and has used throughout her career can be transformed in sophisticated ways. The second folly, Merry-Go-Round, is a contemporary upholstered living space that draws on Mahdavi’s characteristic use of bold colour and her long history of working with master upholsterers. In the shape of a rotunda, the room has a colour scheme evoking the sea and uses fabrics including Italian velvet and satin, inspired by the exhibit’s beautiful setting in Venice.

Both follies feature the work of European artisanal companies with whom Mahdavi has worked throughout her career. They include Valencia-based Rattan Deco, one of the few remaining rattan workshops in Europe, which makes beautiful marquetry creations out of natural, fast-growing cane liana; de Gournay, an international design house creating bespoke wallpapers, fabrics and tablewear for antique interiors; Dedar, a family-run fabric house near Como, Italy, which combines artisanal know-how with innovation and research to create cutting-edge contemporary collections; and Vimas, an atelier specialising in upholstery founded by Pietro Virzi, who was awarded MAM – Master of Arts and Crafts in 2018. Staged in the Sala Carnelutti at the Fondazione San Giorgio Cini, the two follies will be dramatically lit from above and set within a black exterior, allowing visitors to completely immerse themselves in the spaces. 

“The know-how of craftsmanship is at its best when serving the imaginary. When the might of the hand is combined with the might of the mind, the magic is revealed. Beauty only results from this encounter.” – India Mahdavi, curator

Imaginary Architecture is one of 16 exhibits that make up Homo Faber, a major new exhibition celebrating European craftsmanship, organised by the Michelangelo Foundation.