Do you remember the first time you set foot in a carpentry workshop?
Of course! I was 14, and I was immediately struck by the smell of stone pine wood, its grain and malleability. After I finished my compulsory education, my father sent me to work there. The owner of the workshop, however, soon realised that I was talented, so he made me take night classes in Art School.
What was the first object you made entirely on your own?
A carved frame. I was 17, and I wouldn’t let anyone help me. I wanted to show the person who had become my mentor that I had learned what he had taught me. That frame was also a challenge I set for myself: if I hadn’t been able to accomplish it, I would have changed profession.
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Why did you move to Venice from Treviso?
As a young man, in my eyes Venice represented history and art. When the time came to open my own workshop, it felt natural for me to move here. And the joy of being here continues to this day: if I find myself at a dead-end, I just go out for a stroll. After looking around, I get back to my workshop more inspired than before.
What advice would you give to a young person starting this profession?
To persevere: in this craft you have to work a lot to earn very little. But if one has passion, if one manages to do what one loves, who cares about the money!