Tracing Venice: a tribute to St. Mark’s Basilica’s ancient mosaic floors and their weathering over the course of centuries

An installation composed of mosaic works of art crafted from metal by renowned Italian
manufacturer De Castelli and designed by the studio Zanellato/Bortotto celebrates the unique
history of St. Mark’s Basilica’s precious mosaic flooring.

Detail of one of the panels crafted by De Castelli ©Mauro Tittoto

• A site-specific installation composed of works made of a mosaic of different metals with special finishes and textures
• Zanellato/Bortotto's research is interpreted by De Castelli to tell the centuries-long story of a city exposed to the elements
• These works represent the patient and incessant restoration carried out over time on the decorations of St. Mark’s Basilica and are an authentic tribute to the lagoon city

Visitors to Homo Faber Event 2022 will be encouraged to change their viewpoint and to search for the beauty to be found in Venice below their feet, uncovering an infinite variety of shades, marks and imperfections, evident traces of a phenomenon unique to the lagoon city: high water. The exhibition Tracing Venice, the result of a creative collaboration between Italian design studio Zanellato/Bortotto and metal manufacturer De Castelli, takes visitors on a journey through the history of St Mark’s Basilica’s mosaic tradition.

St. Mark's Basilica is marked by the 12th-century polychrome mosaics that cover more than 2,000 square metres of flooring. This complex set of ornamental mosaic patterns tells the tales of distant worlds and stories, and their encounters with Venice. As one of the most exposed areas of the lagoon city, St Mark’s has been deeply affected by the rising tide, resulting in the deterioration and wear of its mosaic treasures.

This imaginative project traces the changes to the mosaics over the course of the centuries by imitating them with different shades and oxidations of metal. In each specially-made artwork, imperfections remind the viewer of the fragility of St Mark’s flooring and the great importance of preserving and protecting it.

In order to reflect this erosion caused by water and time, De Castelli has employed state-of-the-art technology and outstanding craftsmanship to push its limits of experimentation. Copper, brass and steel acquire multi-coloured hues and a range of extraordinary finishes in which oxidation, erosion and brushwork transform into a breathtaking kaleidoscope of variations. Geometric shapes and colours take the form of a mosaic where differing textures alternate, meld and multiply, almost as if they were living materials.

“Ongoing commitment to research and design have taken centre stage in a project born out of the blending of two philosophies, that of De Castelli and Zanellato/Bortotto. This kinship of visions has given rise to unique surfaces, which surprise with their creative magic and speak of a 1,000-year-old tradition.” – De Castelli, metal manufacturer

“The Basilica is an example of the resilience of a city that for centuries has resisted the climatic phenomenon and the violent way which it often affects its structures.” – Zanellato/Bortotto, design studio

Portrait of Giorgia Zanellato and Daniele Bortotto – Laila Pozzo ©Michelangelo Founation

Tracing Venice is set in the Gallery at Fondazione Giorgio Cini. It is one of 15 exhibitions that comprise Homo Faber Event 2022, organised by the Michelangelo Foundation.

Notes for editors

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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

De Castelli

Founded in 2003 by Albino Celato and heir of a long tradition in metal manufacturing, De Castelli is now internationally well-known for introducing the language of design, mixing craftsmanship and advanced technologies. Pieces of furniture resulting from collaborations with famous designers contributed to raising the profile of the brand, together with new surface solutions that enhance the characteristics of metals, born from on-going studies and research on materials. Recently, the company has focused on collaborations with international architects and on partnerships with famous companies that work in the design field. Some have led to prestigious projects and special works for the Biennale di Architettura in Venice and Milano Expo.

Zanellato/Bortotto

Giorgia Zanellato and Daniele Bortotto founded their studio in 2013. Their first project, the Acqua Alta collection, pays homage to the city of Venice. This moment marked the beginning of their longstanding, constant research into the relationship between places and the passing of time, a connection analysed through the reinterpretation of traditional artisanal techniques. The studio’s work includes product design, limited editions for galleries, art direction, and interior design.

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