Organised by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, Homo Faber is a fortnight-long celebration of master artisans, innovative crafting techniques and the latest design developments. Held in Venice from September 14-30, 2018, Homo Faber will bring together some of the finest craftsman from across Europe, as chosen by a select group architects, designers and curators, in an immersive exhibition which aims to allow visitors to experience their works in a unique and memorable way.
Among the highlights for boat lovers will be Eilean, a 22 metre Bermudian ketch built in Scotland in 1936 and painstakingly restored by Panerai. Visitors to Homo Faber will be able to step on board this beautiful vessel, which has been rebuilt according to her 1930s plans and fitted with original features such as her wooden steering wheel. Rediscovered in Antigua in 2006 and brought back to Italy by cargo ship, Eilean’s restoration has taken over three years and has been carefully overseen by Panerai at the Francesco Del Carlo shipyard in Viareggio.
Now back in perfect sailing condition, Eilean will be moored in the waters off San Giorgio Maggiore island where guests can admire her masts, which were remade using wood from a single Alaskan spruce tree, the seamless meeting between new build materials and the original salvaged Burmese teak and her new wall clock, barometer and marine chronometer crafted by Officine Panerai.
Other must-sees at the Homo Faber exhibition include Doppia Firma, a series of 13 collaborative artworks created by Venetian artisans and international designers supported by the Fondazione Cologni dei Mestiere d’Arte and Living Corriere della Sera, Discovery and Rediscovery, a dive into the hidden talent and artistry that goes into some of the world’s finest luxury products, and Workshop Exclusives, a garage-style area in which Europe’s finest engineers will unveil the inner workings of high-end cars, motorbikes, bicycles and helicopters.
Alongside the exhibition, the Homo Faber programme will include a range of talks, debates, conferences and workshops in its stunning Lo Squero lecture hall. A former gondola workshop, this elegant space overlooks the lagoons of Venice and invites creative thinking and discussion.
Homo Faber takes places on San Giorgio Maggiore island in Venice from September 14-30, 2018. To register your interest in attending visit homofaberevent.com.