From 14 to 30 September, Vacheron Constantin will participate in Homo Faber, the first major international cultural exhibition dedicated to the excellence of European craftsmanship, which will take place at the Giorgio Cini Foundation in Venice. Since 1755, the year of its foundation, the Geneva-based Maison has been creating extraordinary timepieces that enhance the traditional decorative techniques handed down from generation to generation by master craftsmen. One of them, whose vocation emerged very early on and who is among the few enamellers to master this extremely delicate art, will present the grisaille enamelling technique. First used in the 16th century, this particular technique consists of drawing a motif starting with a layer of dark enamel applied to the gold dial and then adding touches of Limoges white at a later stage: this is a rare enamel, composed of a very fine powder mixed with oils and designed to enhance delicate colour nuances. Each layer is baked for an extremely precise period of time. Vacheron Constantin has further perfected the process through manual finishing interventions to accentuate the depth, light effects and elegance of each creation. During the exhibition, the master enameller will demonstrate his savoir-faire on dials specially made for Homo Faber, depicting Venetian palaces. Visitors will also be able to admire the variety of enamelling techniques and decorative themes thanks to the exhibition of four extraordinary watches from Vacheron Constantin's private collection. Homo Faber celebrates European craftsmanship in the splendid setting of the Giorgio Cini Foundation in Venice. The galleries, the library, the cloisters and even the swimming pool dating back to the 1960s will host masterpieces, exhibitions, installations and workshops presenting the work of the best European craftsmen. "The Expression Homo Faber, coined during the Renaissance, captures and celebrates the infinite creativity of human beings," notes Johann Rupert, co-founder of the Michelangelo Foundation, which is organising the exhibition. "The initiative will offer an overview of the excellence of European high artistic craftsmanship, with a special focus on what humans can do better than machines." The Giorgio Cini Foundation, both a work of art and a centre for cultural and humanistic studies, is the perfect venue for Homo Faber; For the occasion, visitors will be able to explore spaces that are not usually accessible to the public. "We chose Venice for this exhibition not only because it is a stronghold of culture and a place of unparalleled beauty," explains Franco Cologni, co-founder of the Michelangelo Foundation, "but also because Venice is and always has been a European pole of exchange and contact with the rest of the world."
