Homo Faber 2026 : An Island of Light is now open to the public at Fondazione Giorgio Cini, San Giorgio Maggiore Island, Venice

This fourth edition of Homo Faber Biennial, the international celebration of contemporary craftsmanship, is the most ambitious yet, promising visitors a unique encounter with handcrafted objects from around the world, illuminated by extraordinary installations conceived by Artistic Director Es Devlin.

Curated by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, and organised in partnership with Fondazione Giorgio Cini and Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte, Homo Faber 2026 puts the work of international master artisans centre stage through 15 immersive installations within the magnificent rooms and grounds of Fondazione Giorgio Cini. Es Devlin’s
creative concept harnesses light, water, mirrors, movement and sound to create a profound narrative that plunges visitors into the world of craftsmanship, from the craft artists themselves to their workshops, tools, materials and the exquisite objects they create. Marking an evolution from previous editions, and with 85 percent of artisans exhibiting at Homo Faber Biennial for
the first time, Homo Faber 2026 invites visitors to explore the relationship between light, materials, talent and creativity.

Es Devlin says: “My wish for Homo Faber 2026 is for visitors to shift their perspective. I hope they will come away with an understanding of the etymology of objects, the hands that make them and the conditions in which they are made. I hope they will be inspired to make things themselves, to support those who have devoted their lives to making things, and to never again pick up an object without thinking about the steps that brought it to their hand.”

Hanneli Rupert, Executive Vice-Chair of the Michelangelo Foundation, comments: “When Homo Faber was first conceived, it grew from a simple but urgent conviction: that craftsmanship matters. This fourth edition of Homo Faber Biennial arrives at a particularly
important moment. Today, as technology can generate images, imitate voices and reproduce forms with astonishing efficiency, many of us are rediscovering our hunger for authenticity and deeply human values. We continue to seek evidence of the human hand – traces of individuality, imperfection, skill and intention. For Homo Faber 2026, we wanted to create an experience that communicates our ethos not only intellectually, but emotionally. That is why we invited Es Devlin to become our Artistic Director. Es operates like a conductor, imagining entire universes; her practice reminds us that we are the masters of our own universes, with
the power to harness technology rather than be controlled by it. At a time when so much feels uncertain, perhaps what we need most are reminders of what human beings can create with their minds, their hearts and their hands.”

Alberto Cavalli, Executive Director of the Michelangelo Foundation, adds: “Promoting artisanship, human talent and creativity means promoting freedom of choice. Those who dream of artificial intelligence are free to do so, but there are other dreams which have the same right to exist: the dream of being able to name those who create the objects we use; the dream of transforming a talent into a profession; the dream of making one’s hands a tool to change the world. Homo Faber 2026 gives visibility to these extraordinary talents and their personalities by telling and celebrating their stories, and doing so with sobriety and truth.”

Gianfelice Rocca, President of Fondazione Giorgio Cini, remarks: “For 75 years, the foundation has been a place where different disciplines meet. Here, conservation and research, art and science, tradition and innovation exist side by side. It is a place where ideas are born, nurtured and transformed: Homo Faber 2026 has the remarkable ability to reveal and celebrate this identity. Here, the ancient enters into dialogue with the contemporary.”