Curating The Artisan: a crafted tea room
After months of prepping and planning, not to mention delays due to the pandemic Homo Faber, the cultural event dedicated to contemporary craftsmanship, presented by the Michelangelo Foundation finally opens the doors to its much-anticipated 2nd Edition.
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
