Series Off Series is an ongoing exhibition on modern Italian design at the National Museum of China.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Italian architect and designer Andrea Branzi, whose vase design Iceberg is part of the current exhibition, says that unlike conventional manual work, contemporary artisanship is centered around "a strong interaction" between artisan-operators and advanced technologies.

He says an artisan today manages his work with sophisticated machines.

Italian art is familiar to visitors to the National Museum of China: The institution has held three exhibitions over the past five years introducing classic Italian art.

The current exhibition on modern Italian design meets China's ambition to boost its own creative industry and to nurture more designers.

Cancellato says both China and Italy boast a long-standing history of artisanship and establishing colleges to cultivate designers, and she hopes to strengthen exchanges in the field.

She says Triennale di Milano's organizing committee toured Beijing, Chongqing, Chengdu and Guangzhou in January 2016 to promote the 21st edition of its international exhibition in March.

Cancellato says there are plans to exhibit more Chinese designs at the triennale's design museum in Milan. Right now, she adds, talks are in progress for touring the triennale to Shenzhen.