If the heritage of ancestral know-how were to be symbolized, it would undoubtedly be by the Compagnonnage. Since the Middle Ages, the Compagnons du Devoir have been committed to passing on their expertise. Against all odds, some of them are now using digital technology as a working tool. Talented and determined, Kevin Joly joined the Compagnons du Devoir at the age of 14, in stone-cutting. Two years later, he set off on his tour of France with an idea in mind: to combine stonemasonry with a new technology. His project came to fruition when, at the age of 22, he set up a technology center within a stone-cutting company. 3D modeling, 5-axis digital machine programming and 3D digitizing are all part of the cluster, all accompanied by a conventional charter that defines the share of man's work and that of the machine.
In 2018, Kevin founded his own company, i-Craft, in which high-tech and stonecutting come together. I-craft reflects the assemblages and reflection of various processes that are created in my head. Optimizing practices within a concept of controlled evolution is important for crafts, for humanitý. Sometimes frowned upon, the combination of these two practices, which can be seen as contradictory by some, enhances the gesture of the hand and allows us to reinvent the field of possibilities. Digital technology enables us to develop precise points in the production chain. I-Craft works with numerous groups, including multi-nationals, as well as craftsmen, on creation, repair and restoration projects.
To read Cécile Papapietro-Matsuda's full article on the Intramuros website, click here: Source