Simone Cenedese: high craftsmanship and contemporary design in glass, amidst the colours of the Lagoon

Simone Cenedese inherited his glasswork workshop from his father Giovanni, who founded it in the 1970s in Murano. The company immediately become a renowned excellence in the field of glassworking. Simone, thanks to his talent and inventiveness, and his spirit of innovation, has also made the furnace an international point of reference for many designers who wish to experiment with Murano glass, and give shape to their ideas.
Over the years, the master has developed a unique style, creating original objects with a contemporary taste. His works are pure and brilliant, and are obtained through a secret mixture of minerals. His creations are available in various colours and can be customised on request, even with the application of gold or silver leaf and other special finishes.
The company also creates large avant-garde works that are often exhibited in prestigious public spaces and concept stores. The furnace and the showroom will open their doors to the general public, with guided tours and other experiences, on the occasion of “Homo Faber in Città“, an initiative curated by Fondazione Cologni and the side-event of the great exhibition “Homo Faber: The Journey of Life“.

What is your story and how did you get into glassmaking?
Actually, I could not tell the exact moment when I approached glass. Since I was a child, I was surrounded by the sounds and colors of the furnace, thanks to my father. I have always seen glass being worked and it was natural for me to start doing it myself.

For your work, how important was the bond with the territory and the island of Murano?
It was crucial. My connection with the island of Murano is very strong. It has completely influenced me in all the aspects of my work, not only in terms of professional training.
Everything around me has stimulated and inspired me: the sounds of the tools, the burning ovens, the colours of the lagoon, the scent of salt, the wind, the colours of the sunset. All this is inside my works.

How has your work changed over all these years, from when you started to today?
Our work in recent years has shifted to custom-made production. We often work on request, or starting from the drawing or project of the customer, even for major international fashion brands or for the luxury field, who commission us the production of their objects.

What do you love the most about your work?
I love everything about my work. I am always stimulated by new requests and commissions, and the collaboration with other artists and designers always gives me something new that enriches my professional background.

What is the most important project you have realised so far?
To choose only one project out of all is difficult, because each one is special in its own way. I could say that working on urban installations has always been challenging and exciting for me: for example, so it was for the almost nine-metre high Christmas tree I made in 2006, and the glass comet I made in 2007, both exhibited in Campo Santo Stefano in Murano. The Christmas Tree then travelled, and was exhibited in several Italian cities.

How do you realise your works, what is the process?
I still make my works by following the oldest Murano glassworking techniques. Obviously, some aspects of the process have been adapted to contemporary standards and environmental regulations, but we essentially use the traditional techniques, handed down from father to son. Our artefacts are made of blown glass or solid submerged glass. The latter technique consists of soaking the glass in crucibles with different colours. The result is an object of great thickness, consisting of several layers of coloured glass. The tools have also remained unchanged, for example the “borselle”, special pliers for handling glass, which are made by local craftsmen, along with the rest of the working tools.

“Homo Faber”, an important event dedicated to high craftsmanship to be held from 1st to 30th of September on the Island of San Giorgio (Venice), is approaching. Fondazione Cologni will curate “In Città”, a collateral initiative that will open the doors of Venice’s craft workshops to the public. Will you be organising anything special for this occasion?
We have opened the doors of our workshop to visitors of Homo Faber In Città, to show our art. We will organise guided tours of both the furnace and the showroom, so that the public can see both the manufacturing process and the finished product. In addition, we are currently working on organising dedicated initiatives, also in collaboration with other organisations.

What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are always related to Murano glass: I would like to expand my collaborations, improve and refine my working techniques and my experience, to continue to contribute to the dissemination and the enhancement of Murano glass.

Simone Cenedese
Calle Bertolini, 6 – Murano (Venice)
Ph. +39 041 5274455
info@simonecenedese.it
www.simonecenedese.it