Homo Faber 2026: The future of handmade
The Homo Faber 2026 exhibition in Venice highlights the importance of human craftsmanship in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence. Curated by Es Devlin, the event emphasizes the value of slow, deliberate work and the preservation of traditional skills.
Why it matters
The exhibition serves as a cultural counter-narrative to the rapid automation of creative and manual labor, advocating for the continued relevance of human agency.
At a time when AI bosses are making headlines, warning that their machines may become too powerful to control, Venice is a city of hope. With its quiet argument for handmade and human intelligence, be it at the Venice Biennale, Homo Faber or the zillion art and design shows across the city, it provides a winning case for where human agency should remain.
On the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Homo Faber 2026 unfolds under British artist and scenographer Es Devlin’s keen direction, across workshops, cloisters, a labryinth, a mirrored hall and a swimming pool. It is a celebration of things made slowly and deliberately and by people who have spent years learning the craft.
British artist and scenographer Es Devlin | Photo Credit: Victor Picon
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