To speak of ‘tradition’ in the digital era where acceleration has been a relevant keyword, sounds backwards. We became convinced that the only way is forward. But when you go too fast you loose touch with the ground. Knowing this, it is not surprising that we now witness, within the contemporary movement, a need to create roots, to feel connected and grounded to something that we can feed from. To claim back tradition is also to say that we need to slow down. In Hands-on, we accompany designer Emmanuel Babled across Europe in an effort to fnd how new technologies can contribute positively to keep tradition alive, heightening our awareness of the role that handcraf plays in contemporary design. The film reminds us that time, patience, atention, quality and groundedness are key. It is no coincidence that, “artisans are serene.” Tuscanyness, could be said to be a flm-manifesto. Directed by the cultural association 120g, based in Pisa (Italy),
it was founded in 2014 by a group of architects and engineers in order to “create a beter future for Italy”. The documentary starts by making a bleak diagnostic of the current situation: decline of suburbs, abandoned buildings, property speculation and, architects emigrating abroad.
The ones who stay, have to work for speculators. Architecture’s popularity is at its lowest point – as one interviewee states. 120g claims the need for
a cultural rebirth, where identity is crucial. Also, it is necessary that architects remind themselves of the ethical dimension of their profession, becoming aware that their practice can have an empowering role in making this rebirth happen