Chiara Della Santina

Claire Lune

Ceramicist

Moonlit ceramics

Chiara creates ceramic works for mindfulness
Her work is inspired by daily rituals and by the moon
Her creative approach is slow and organic

Chiara Della Santina is a self-taught ceramic artist who, after having spent several years in England and Ireland, decided to return to Italy. She has set up her studio in the South of Tuscany, surrounded by the sea and the mountains, a variety of wild animals, and the scent of medicinal herbs. Her creative practice is based on an exploration of silence, intuition, movement, breath, and a constant search for harmony and creative honesty. She uses traditional techniques that allow for immediacy and intuition on the one hand and a high level of control on the other. Her mindful and slow approach means that her creations evolve and change organically, sometimes resulting in a completely different outcome from the original idea. The name of her studio, Claire Lune, pays tribute to the moon cycles and the way in which they influence her creativity.

Interview

Why does the moon feature so prominently in your work?: The archetype of the moon stands for inspiration, meditation and intuition. Moon cycles influence my creativity: when the moon is full my dreams are suddenly enriched by textures and colours, which I gradually transform into artworks. Embracing this connection has opened the doors to more intuitive creativity.
What kind of objects do you like to make?: I have a wide range of series, but one of my specialties consists in kits for domestic rituals such as smudging and incense burning. Each object within this collection is carefully designed to maximise the positive effects of these rituals.
How does such a specific creative identity translate in terms running a business?: From the moment I started focusing on the objects that were truly meaningful to me my sales actually improved even though the prices are not, and cannot be, competitive. It is important to have a singularity, because that singularity will speak to the people who are really interested.
How did you get involved with ceramics in the first place?: I was one of those little girls who are always clean and do not like getting their hands dirty, therefore my choice to work with ceramics came as a surprise to everyone, including myself. From the moment I took clay in my hands it just felt like home.

Chiara Della Santina is a rising star: she began her career in 2016