Preserving Human Genius and Florentine Craftsmanship in the Era of AI
The elegant spaces of the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade served as the perfect setting for the cultural symposium and exclusive exhibition of the prestigious “Salon of Excellence – Florence Edition”. Organized by DeGorsi Luxury Consulting in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute and the Embassy of Italy, this high-profile event was dedicated to a deeply profound and contemporary theme: the preservation of traditional handmade craftsmanship within a modern technological framework.
The program, expertly moderated by the initiative’s founder Aleksandar Đorđević, opened with a masterful lecture by art historian Paola Vojnović. She guided the audience on a fascinating journey through Renaissance Florence—from the architectural wonders of Brunelleschi and the powerful Medici dynasty to today’s modern guardians of heritage.
The centerpiece of the symposium featured deeply moving and inspiring testimonies from the master artisans themselves. Maestro Antonio Liverano (of the historic tailoring house Liverano & Liverano) took the stage to share the story of his humble beginnings, having left impoverished post-war Puglia for Florence at the tender age of 13 to seek a better life. It was the craft of tailoring that gave him hope and sanctuary at the time; today, Maestro Liverano stands as one of the world’s most revered creators of men’s elegance, celebrated for his bold use of colors that defiantly challenge conventional grey-and-black tailoring norms.
A significant focus was placed on education and passing knowledge down to new generations, a topic eloquently presented by Beatrice Parri Gori on behalf of the renowned Scuola del Cuoio. Operating for over 75 years within the Santa Croce monastery, this institution carries out a noble mission: providing young people from modest backgrounds with the opportunity to master elite artisanal skills, transforming the finest leather into objects of timeless value.
The audience was also addressed by Filippo Parri Gori on behalf of Stefano Bemer, a beacon of luxury handmade shoemaking from Florence’s historic Oltrarno district. Famously known as the workshop where the legendary three-time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis once trained, it remains a place where time and quality are not measured by the clock, but by the number of perfect, precise hand-stitches.
Demonstrating that daily life rituals can be elevated to supreme art, the historical house of Ginori 1735 showcased how its masters have been turning porcelain into masterpieces for over two centuries. Meanwhile, the representatives of Farmacia di Santissima Annunziata dal 1561 revealed the secrets behind fragrance notes that trace their lineage back to the late Middle Ages, proving that a perfume represents a lasting memory distilled into the senses. The continuity of Tuscan inspiration was further embodied by jewelry designer Marina Calamai, who utilizes ancient, forgotten techniques to craft unique jewelry from precious metals and bronze.
This highly successful cultural symposium concluded in a celebratory atmosphere with a premium wine tasting courtesy of the legendary Tuscan winery Marchesi Antinori, presented by sommelier Luka Dinčić, leaving the Belgrade audience deeply inspired by the power, poetry, and enduring value of the human hand.