CRAFTSMANSHIP


MAKE MINE MURANO How does a Senegalese man become


a master in an art that was birthed on an isolated Italian island back in the seventh century? Simple: by falling in love. That’s what happened when Moulaye Niang visited Venice for the first time. “I was struck by the water, the sand and the calm of everything. Here you can do nothing but walk. There are no cars or other fast transport.” That love intensified when he saw


the pearls which can be fashioned by the elements that make up the island of Murano – how sand, water and, ultimately, fire can be harnessed to create a rare kind of beauty. Hailing from a family of artists, Moulaye knew instinctively he’d feel totally at home in the Murano glass-making fraternity. It’s an interesting space because, as


he points out, Murano’s glassmakers have traditionally been a rather closed community of master crafters. That’s changing as a new generation takes over – associations are being established to promote and profile the art, while foreigners are being welcomed into the realm. The benefit, he says, is that they’re bringing fresh insights with them and he’s hopeful that this will transform what’s currently a “handicraft” into a


novelty in the global art world – one that’s worthy of its protected Unesco World Heritage status. One of the main reasons Murano


glass is so prized is because of the high level of skill required. Moulaye dismisses the idea of training, declaring that inspiration can’t be taught. His definition of training, therefore, involves catching mistakes and turning them into technique. Above all, becoming a true artist requires daily practice – which is what he’s been doing for 17 years. Murano glass is currently most highly


valued by Venetians themselves, who support their homegrown art. There’s little market for it in the rest of Italy, although there’s a large following beyond the country’s borders. And, says Moulaye, this is set to grow: “At the moment, people are most familiar with the ancient works produced in Murano, rather than the contemporary glass beads we’re making. But as more young people gain confidence, this is sure to change.”


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WORDS: ??? PHOTOGRAPHER: ???


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