To answer the first part, a curator is someone who researches, gathers, organises, presents, and preserves information that is relevant to a specialist subject. Curators tend to specialise in: a specific topic (i.e. contemporary craft, loom woven textiles), a period (i.e. mid-century modern, Arts and Crafts Movement) and/or an artist, maker, or designer (i.e. Magdalene Odundo, William Morris).

Curators organise exhibitions and manage and maintain collections and archives. Their duties can include writing articles, essays and books, and teaching on their topic. Curators get their name from the Latin word, which means ‘guardian’, ‘overseer’ ‘manager’.

Different types of curators include:

• Museum, gallery or library curators – attached to a cultural institution, in charge of their collections including heritage and historical objects
• Independent curators – not attached to an organisation so will mount their own exhibitions or will collaborate with different organisations on one-off or ongoing projects
• Designer-maker-artists – who organise solo or group exhibitions of their own or their contemporaries’ work
• Private/family curators – work for a (usually wealthy) family or a corporate organisation buying and collecting work on their behalf and maintaining their collection
• Content curators – who represent a new era of curation because they often spot and support up-and-coming talent by showcasing their work on their platforms. Like curators, content curators gather, package, and present information about a particular topic or area of interest. Bloggers, website and social media platform owners fall into this category

Where applicable a curator will cultivate ongoing relationships with artists, designers and makers, helping to develop their careers.

– Tapiwa

[Image credits: The image shown belongs to Matheus Viana via pexels. If downloaded and used elsewhere please credit accordingly.]

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I am honoured to be taking part in this event as the curator of The Artisan: a crafted tea room. It is one of 15 immersive exhibitions curated by 22 curators and designers, 350 master artisans, rising stars and designers, with a special focus on Japanese National Living Treasures.

In what has been my most challenging curatorial role, the brief of transforming this empty space by turning away from the typical look-but-don’t-touch exhibition format to embrace an interactive presentation that invites and expects visitors to get up close and personal with the objects on display. 

The result is an intimate setting that has been described as ‘feeling like home’, and having ‘a wonderful vibe’. I couldn’t ask for much more than that. Thank you, Homo Faber for the opportunity. And a huge thank you to all the artisans, designers, and manufacturers for loaning their objects to make it all possible.

– Tapiwa Matsinde

Image credits: Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Simone Padovani©Michelangelo Foundation, Nicolò Zanatta©Michelangelo Foundation, Tapiwa Matsinde

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As a curator of one of the exhibitions, The Artisan: a crafted tea room, I am proud to be taking part in this exceptional event.

For more visit: https://www.homofaber.com 

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After decades dominated by mass production, we want the objects we use on a daily basis to have personality and soul. Every handmade piece bears someone’s fingerprints.

Tapiwa Matsinde, Author, Curator, Mentor

Image credit: Laila Pozzo for Homo Faber

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My mission is to transform the Padiglione delle CapriateRoom / Truss Pavilion into a functioning tea room that is filled with exceptional furniture and objects crafted by artisans and manufacturers from around the world. The challenge is that not only will visitors be able to view the objects in the room they will also be able to interact with and use them during their time touring the event’s other exhibitions. This means sitting on chairs, having a cup of tea, or having a bite to eat on dining and Bistrot tables. Reclining on armchairs and sinking into plush sofas as they take time out to refresh and recharge.

And to do all this in just over 3 months, yikes!

An initiative of the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity & Craftsmanship, Homo Faber 2022 features 15 exhibitions, 22 curators and designers, 12 Japanese Living Treasures, and over 400 works crafted by over 350 artisans, and designers, and manufacturers representing over 30 countries.

Image credit of Padiglione delle Capriate belongs to The Giorgio Cini Foundation

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Presenting existing and never-before-seen collectible artworks made especially for the exhibition Art & Exception brings together 45 exceptional pieces from 25 artists representing 15 African countries. The objects are by emerging and established names working across a range of disciplines from woodwork to embroidery, among them the South African ceramist Zizipho Poswa, the intricate lighting of Meftah House crafted in their Moroccan workshops, the entirely hand-embroidered paintings by Rwandan Christine Rwagatare, the watercolours of Bartholomew Toguo on a series of ceramic plates, and the textile universe of Ghizlane Sahli.

Art & Exception is on show in person at the French auction house, Artcurial, or view the live experience online.

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