Studio/Bottega: Contemporary Artists Collaborate with Roman Artisans

On June 9, at Spazio Cerere, curator Ilaria Gianni will unveil Studio/Bottega, an innovative project that connects five contemporary artists with five artisan workshops in Rome. This initiative seeks to rejuvenate the age-old idea of 'casa e bottega' (home and workshop) by promoting interaction between modern art and traditional craftsmanship. The artists involved are Matteo Nasini, collaborating with glassmaker Andrea Costa from Era Vetro; Gianni Politi, teaming up with candlemaker Paola Doricchi of La Garibaldina; Emiliano Maggi, working alongside ceramist Luca Paolelli from Paolelli Passione Ceramica; Alessandro Vizzini, partnering with chocolatier Fabrizio de Mauro of S.A.I.D, founded in 1923; and Carola Bonfili, who will work with artisan-designer Giorgio Mazzone of RotaLab. The project, supported by a team including Giuseppe Arnesano and others, challenges the perception of contemporary art as effortless, highlighting the intricate techniques of Italian craftsmanship. This inaugural edition echoes Christian Jankowski's approach for Manifesta, illustrating the productive coexistence of labor and art.