Gianfranco Chicco 亀甲
@gchicco.com
Creative producer, storyteller & conference director working at the intersection of design, technology and craft. Curious. Japanophile. Writer of The Craftsman Newsletter.
https://gchicco.com
https://thecraftsman.email
https://gchicco.com
https://thecraftsman.email
As a knowledge worker perennially in front of a screen, learning traditional hand skills, even briefly, offers something irreplaceable.
October 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
As a knowledge worker perennially in front of a screen, learning traditional hand skills, even briefly, offers something irreplaceable.
August 26, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Equally looking forward and afraid about this doc on Jeff Buckley. Trailer: youtu.be/DRrcgLRX8Qc?...
August 6, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Equally looking forward and afraid about this doc on Jeff Buckley. Trailer: youtu.be/DRrcgLRX8Qc?...
Shodō practice on Sunday: 放
Hanatsu (放つ), meaning “to release” or “to let go”, to move towards "nothingness" (無) or “no-mind” (無心). In Zen this refers to freeing yourself from the attachments, delusions, and mental baggage that weigh you down.
Brushed in three styles, from formal to informal.
Hanatsu (放つ), meaning “to release” or “to let go”, to move towards "nothingness" (無) or “no-mind” (無心). In Zen this refers to freeing yourself from the attachments, delusions, and mental baggage that weigh you down.
Brushed in three styles, from formal to informal.
July 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Shodō practice on Sunday: 放
Hanatsu (放つ), meaning “to release” or “to let go”, to move towards "nothingness" (無) or “no-mind” (無心). In Zen this refers to freeing yourself from the attachments, delusions, and mental baggage that weigh you down.
Brushed in three styles, from formal to informal.
Hanatsu (放つ), meaning “to release” or “to let go”, to move towards "nothingness" (無) or “no-mind” (無心). In Zen this refers to freeing yourself from the attachments, delusions, and mental baggage that weigh you down.
Brushed in three styles, from formal to informal.
This Friday at 10am UK, first online session of The Summer Sessions: Craft & Design
Textile artist Cindy Lilen on "miracle fibres" from the Andes and creating Argentina's London Design Biennale pavilion.
Craft meets ancient wisdom: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#craft #design #textiles
Textile artist Cindy Lilen on "miracle fibres" from the Andes and creating Argentina's London Design Biennale pavilion.
Craft meets ancient wisdom: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#craft #design #textiles
June 16, 2025 at 12:32 PM
This Friday at 10am UK, first online session of The Summer Sessions: Craft & Design
Textile artist Cindy Lilen on "miracle fibres" from the Andes and creating Argentina's London Design Biennale pavilion.
Craft meets ancient wisdom: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#craft #design #textiles
Textile artist Cindy Lilen on "miracle fibres" from the Andes and creating Argentina's London Design Biennale pavilion.
Craft meets ancient wisdom: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#craft #design #textiles
Bonavita Variable Temp Digital Electric Kettle
June 5, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Bonavita Variable Temp Digital Electric Kettle
What I always love about the Serpentine Pavilions is that they have no doors and are thus open to all, becoming a gathering space during the summer.
June 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
What I always love about the Serpentine Pavilions is that they have no doors and are thus open to all, becoming a gathering space during the summer.
Tabassum shared how the inspiration came from her native Bangladesh and the Bengal Delta, where architecture embraces adaptability and ephemeral stances to deal with the consequences of climate change.
June 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Tabassum shared how the inspiration came from her native Bangladesh and the Bengal Delta, where architecture embraces adaptability and ephemeral stances to deal with the consequences of climate change.
The latest iteration of the Serpentine Pavilion is fabulous, even on an overcast day. 'A Capsule in Time' by Marina Tabassum and her Dhaka-based team.
June 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The latest iteration of the Serpentine Pavilion is fabulous, even on an overcast day. 'A Capsule in Time' by Marina Tabassum and her Dhaka-based team.
May 31, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Here's the scene in the movie.
May 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Here's the scene in the movie.
I had to use a smaller brush to fit all the characters in regular hanshi (half-sheet) paper. I don’t use it often and struggled to write strokes with the shapes I wanted. But at a certain point you have to let go, so I did.
May 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I had to use a smaller brush to fit all the characters in regular hanshi (half-sheet) paper. I don’t use it often and struggled to write strokes with the shapes I wanted. But at a certain point you have to let go, so I did.
今度は今度、
今は今。
Next time is next time,
Now is now.
Today’s shodō practice is an homage to Wim Wender’s film ‘Perfect Days’.
今は今。
Next time is next time,
Now is now.
Today’s shodō practice is an homage to Wim Wender’s film ‘Perfect Days’.
May 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
今度は今度、
今は今。
Next time is next time,
Now is now.
Today’s shodō practice is an homage to Wim Wender’s film ‘Perfect Days’.
今は今。
Next time is next time,
Now is now.
Today’s shodō practice is an homage to Wim Wender’s film ‘Perfect Days’.
I republished an interview from 2021 with Sven Mihai, who makes tea scoops with a cult following from his mountain workshop in Central Europe
www.gchicco.com/the-influenc...
www.gchicco.com/the-influenc...
May 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I republished an interview from 2021 with Sven Mihai, who makes tea scoops with a cult following from his mountain workshop in Central Europe
www.gchicco.com/the-influenc...
www.gchicco.com/the-influenc...
This is an old photo (1878ca) from the family album.
The boy in uniform was probably my grandfather (Ernesto Chicco), and the man next to him my great-grandfather. Unfortunately, I don't know for sure. The last person who likely knew was my late father.
www.gchicco.com/portrait-fro...
The boy in uniform was probably my grandfather (Ernesto Chicco), and the man next to him my great-grandfather. Unfortunately, I don't know for sure. The last person who likely knew was my late father.
www.gchicco.com/portrait-fro...
May 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
This is an old photo (1878ca) from the family album.
The boy in uniform was probably my grandfather (Ernesto Chicco), and the man next to him my great-grandfather. Unfortunately, I don't know for sure. The last person who likely knew was my late father.
www.gchicco.com/portrait-fro...
The boy in uniform was probably my grandfather (Ernesto Chicco), and the man next to him my great-grandfather. Unfortunately, I don't know for sure. The last person who likely knew was my late father.
www.gchicco.com/portrait-fro...
May 7, 2025 at 9:34 AM
日上月下
“the sun rises, the moon settles"
And the rhythm of the cosmos continues regardless of our human dramas, the ravaging of the environment and our petty wars.
“the sun rises, the moon settles"
And the rhythm of the cosmos continues regardless of our human dramas, the ravaging of the environment and our petty wars.
May 6, 2025 at 9:25 AM
日上月下
“the sun rises, the moon settles"
And the rhythm of the cosmos continues regardless of our human dramas, the ravaging of the environment and our petty wars.
“the sun rises, the moon settles"
And the rhythm of the cosmos continues regardless of our human dramas, the ravaging of the environment and our petty wars.
Today's calligraphy, a few variations of 止まれ (tomare) = Stop 🔻
You'll find this written on signs and throughout Japanese streets.
You'll find this written on signs and throughout Japanese streets.
April 20, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Today's calligraphy, a few variations of 止まれ (tomare) = Stop 🔻
You'll find this written on signs and throughout Japanese streets.
You'll find this written on signs and throughout Japanese streets.
I did a similar experiment and this is what I got from Claude cc @om.co: claude.ai/share/8e1619...
March 29, 2025 at 6:54 PM
I did a similar experiment and this is what I got from Claude cc @om.co: claude.ai/share/8e1619...
Today's shodō practice: '茶禅一味' (cha-zen-ichimi). 'Tea and Zen are one flavour.'
This Zen saying captures how the mindfulness of tea practice - preparing, offering, drinking - mirrors Zen meditation. Both demand presence, dedication and appreciation of simplicity. In each cup, enlightenment awaits.
This Zen saying captures how the mindfulness of tea practice - preparing, offering, drinking - mirrors Zen meditation. Both demand presence, dedication and appreciation of simplicity. In each cup, enlightenment awaits.
March 16, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Today's shodō practice: '茶禅一味' (cha-zen-ichimi). 'Tea and Zen are one flavour.'
This Zen saying captures how the mindfulness of tea practice - preparing, offering, drinking - mirrors Zen meditation. Both demand presence, dedication and appreciation of simplicity. In each cup, enlightenment awaits.
This Zen saying captures how the mindfulness of tea practice - preparing, offering, drinking - mirrors Zen meditation. Both demand presence, dedication and appreciation of simplicity. In each cup, enlightenment awaits.
Today I practiced Kissako / 喫茶去, 'have a cup of tea'.
March 9, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Today I practiced Kissako / 喫茶去, 'have a cup of tea'.
Afternoon of tea and calligraphy. It's been months since I last practiced...
March 8, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Afternoon of tea and calligraphy. It's been months since I last practiced...
...happy daffs in the sunshine.
March 6, 2025 at 2:48 PM
...happy daffs in the sunshine.
Tea break (shou puerh) and...
March 6, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Tea break (shou puerh) and...