Luigi Meccoci, Via dei Velluti, Firenze is a short portrait film of artisan woodworker Luigi, whom I got to know over several weeks whilst on residency in Florence. Through our conversations in his workshop, Luigi allowed me into his process and shared parts of his story with me, including his despair at the many visitors who come into his shop to observe his work without speaking a word to him. Luigi’s words and craft reflect the intense value I found to be placed on restoring, repairing and remaking objects, and the detached gaze of the tourist which saturates the city.
Filmed whilst undertaking the Royal Scottish Academy John Kinross Scholarship in Autumn 2014, the film is now housed in the Royal Scottish Academy Collection.