12 - LE TRACCE DEL MARMO – The Traces of Marble History and illustrated workshop in search of marble and its hidden secrets (Laura Coppini and Marco Altemura)

by Laura Coppini and Marco Altemura

The project arises from the need and space to communicate and spread the value of knowledge about certain places that have an intrinsic history with the material marble, as is the case with Minucciano. There are productive realities and activities that have the ability to create thanks to marble, and many social initiatives look to the future and the next generations with hope and awareness.

The design process traces an in-depth analysis of what marble represents and how it can become the subject through which a territory—or better yet, the knowledge that derives from it—is told. A simple block of marble comes to life, becoming a narrative element, something through which the knowledge of past generations can be transmitted to those who do not yet know that territory.

The Traces of Marble is the title of the book through which the project comes to life: marble tells its story by becoming the core of the narration, not just a character in history. The enhancement of intangible heritage between marble and the social context is the goal around which the work has been carried out, particularly creating a visual narrative around the theme of valuing intangible know-how ("knowing how to do") in direct connection with people, the context, and the material.

The narration through words and illustrations for educational purposes aimed at young people plays a very important role with the goal of making this reality known. The book was designed for children around 8-10 years old and aims to develop skills that help them face and better understand some mechanisms related to marble and its role. The book is divided into two parts: the first is a story section with some tales and illustrations, while the second is a workshop section. The recurring element is play and curiosity, aiming to fascinate.

Children can learn fundamental values such as the importance of learning to see through imperfections thanks to reading and observation. By doing so, they develop a passion for some central themes related to the entire marble sector and artisanal know-how, understanding that anyone can learn. In the workshop section, children can create their own marble step by step with the help of the author and finally achieve their own graphic vision of marble based on line and color.

The aim is to educate and introduce something different: "Roots like marble veins full of vitality, everything is alive—those small filaments that connect but at the same time strongly link everything to each other." The treasure of knowledge, which needs to be trained from an early age, becomes a means to communicate that something apparently neutral, like a block of marble with all its marks and cuts, is much more: it becomes a living material.