In the hands of master artisans, a singular vision yields multiple expressions and forms

In Pattern of Crafts, German designer Sebastian Herkner showcases the important role of fine
craftsmanship in the world of interior decoration

Portrait of curator & designer Sebastian Herkner - Laila Pozzo ©Michelangelo Foundation

• Master artisans interpret the striking geometric pattern of the tiled terrace in front of the church on San Giorgio Maggiore Island
• Artisans’ individual interpretations, using an exquisite array of techniques and materials such as marble, wood marquetry, textiles and more, are accompanied by stories of their creative processes and glimpses of them at work
• In an increasingly digital world, the exhibition honours the tactile and very human nature of fine craftsmanship and its enduring contribution to interior decoration

Sebastian Herkner, named 2019 Designer of the Year by Maison&Objet, explores the crucial contribution master artisans make to the world of interior design and decoration in the exhibition Pattern of Crafts at Homo Faber Event 2022. Herkner invites selected artisans from Europe to interpret the lace-like octagonal pattern of the tiled terrace in front of the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore on San Giorgio Maggiore Island.

The artisans interpret the pattern in a range of techniques and materials – marble, glass, mosaic, wood marquetry, metal and textiles – resulting in exquisitely crafted panels. Together, the works demonstrate how the savoir-faire of master artisans can serve the imagination of a designer, using time-honoured techniques to create decorative patterns for contemporary interiors.

The exhibition also includes stories and behind-the-scenes glimpses at the creation of the pieces. Herkner, who traces his appreciation for artisanship to time spent in his father’s workshop and the forests of Bavaria where he grew up, values craft as a unique expression of culture and place, and as essential to our humanity.

“What is special for humans is that we have all the senses… and this is very connected to design and craftsmanship. If you enter a workshop you can smell the wood or feel the heat in a glass workshop. It’s very important to think about tactility, the surface and the reality. I design for humans.” – Sebastian Herkner

Artisan from Atelier Mestdagh working on the creation of their piece for the exhibition Pattern of Crafts ©Atelier Mestdagh

Artisans whose work is presented:

− Violaine Buet, France: seaweed textiles
− Francisco Carrera Iglesias, Paquili, Spain: embroidery
− edition Van Treeck, Germany: fusing glass
− Signe Emdal, Emdal Studio, Denmark: handwoven loops
− Julien Feller, Belgium: woodcarving
− Daniel Heath, United Kingdom: wallpaper
− Henar Iglesias, Spain: feathers
− Séverina Lartigue, France: silk flowers
− Anna Le Corno, Farouche, France: marquetry
− Atelier Mestdagh, Belgium: stained glass
− Naturtex, Spain: weaving
− Orsoni Venezia 1888, Italy: mosaic
− Marie de la Roussière, France: lacquering
− Rubelli, Italy: weaving
− José Vieira, Portugal: tin crafting
− Tabea Vietzke, Germany: straw marquetry
− Zanat, Bosnia Herzegovina: woodcarving
− Palmalisa Zantedeschi, Italy: stonework

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

Notes for editors

homofaber.com

Discover Venice the #HomoFaberWay

@homofaber

Homo Faber Event

Crafting a more human future

Fondazione Giorgio Cini, San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice

Organised by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, the Homo Faber Event is an international exhibition that champions artisanal talent, showcasing an impressive variety of materials, techniques and skills through live demonstrations, immersive digital experiences and imaginative displays of handcrafted creations. From functional everyday objects to outstanding decorative pieces, this edition highlights craft’s role in creating a more sustainable and inclusive future. The event offers a rare chance to admire the prestigious work of a selection of Japan’s National Living Treasures and to experience craft and its connections to the arts and to the design world. Visitors can join guided tours of the 15 exhibition spaces led by passionate students participating in the Young Ambassadors Programme. Imagined by a team of world-renowned curators and designers, the scenographic event transforms the magnificent spaces of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, located on San Giorgio Maggiore Island in the heart of the Venetian lagoon. On top of the event, the Homo Faber in Città project gives visitors a chance to experience craftsmanship across Venice through tailor-made itineraries. homofaber.com

The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship is a non-profit institution based in Geneva, Switzerland, which champions contemporary craftspeople worldwide with the aim of promoting a more human, inclusive and sustainable future. The Foundation seeks to highlight the connections between craft, the wider arts and the design world. Its mission is to both celebrate and preserve craftsmanship and its diversity of makers, materials and techniques, by increasing craft’s everyday recognition and its viability as a professional path for the next generations. From engaging educational programmes such as the Summer Schools, to its signature digital project the Homo Faber Guide and the international exhibition Homo Faber Event, the Foundation is fostering a cultural movement centred on master artisans and rising stars. michelangelofoundation.org

Sebastian Herkner

German designer Sebastian Herkner has made an indelible mark on the world of interior design since launching his own studio in 2006. Combining his unconditional love for traditional craftsmanship with a flair for colour, a curiosity for different cultures and a feel for new technologies, Herkner has designed furniture for some of the world’s most respected manufacturers, including ClassiCon, Rosenthal, Ames and Cappellini, as well as architectural projects and museum and exhibition designs. His work has garnered numerous awards, and he was named Designer of the Year 2019 by Maison&Objet

Download pdf