Cave Canem — Tapestry

CAVE CANEM is a visual research project that investigates the domestic environment, reimagining ancient iconographic subjects through a contemporary language. The project focuses on the "liminal space" of the home: the entrance. Historically, as evidenced by the mosaic in the House of the Tragic Poet in Pompeii, this transitional zone was often marked by canine depictions accompanied by the warning CAVE CANEM—a legacy that survives today in common and standardized "Beware of Dog" signs.

The project elevates this classical reference, transforming it into a handcrafted design piece made using the punch needle technique. The illustration portrays the guardian in a strictly geometric style, where the animal's aggressive silhouette finds an unexpected contrast and softening in the tactile, material nature of the wool.

The typography does not merely title the work but wraps around it, merging seamlessly with the design. The choice of the AM Tripoli typeface is central to the conceptual framework: by reinterpreting the geometric construction of Roman square capitals and removing their serifs, the font creates a direct dialogue between the inscriptions of the past and the minimalism of contemporary design.