At what point does a craftsman turn into an artist? Our selection of forty artists shows that they are indeed one and the same person. These are those who create objects with their own hands and skilfully combine traditional crafts with innovative, environmentally friendly production processes, as emphasized by the theme of this year’s biennial – “unique nature” – on one hand, with the highest aesthetic standards and artistic vision, on the other hand. In other words, these creators combine artistic value, excellence in craftsmanship, and the subtle finesse of the material.