Porcelain to celebrate everyday life
- Diana enjoys creating everyday objects
- She believes that experiencing beauty should be a daily occurrence
- She has chosen Venice as her place to settle
Diana Dethlefsen's life came together like pieces of a puzzle when she first discovered her passion for porcelain and Venice. She spent several years working in hospitality and pursued studies in art in Antwerp. At the Academy of Fine Arts there was an emphasis on producing works solely for galleries. This led Diana to feel that her art was disconnected from real life. Porcelain plates and cups helped her bridge that gap. Today, crafting objects with moulds, the smalls of the workshop, the way porcelain materialises from liquid to a solid state, and the myriad of production possibilities have revived her connection to the material. Diana draws on the blue and green hues of the lagoon for inspiration, and the movement of the water and sky.
Interview
- What role has creativity played in your life?
- It has always been a part of my life. As a child, my favourite toys were paper, pens, and scissors. So choosing to attend the Academy of Fine Arts felt like a natural progression. I am inquisitive by nature. It is a trait that found its expression in the art of hospitality.
- How did you first come across pottery?
- In 2015, I enrolled in a course out of curiosity to learn how to build moulds for porcelain. I was fascinated by how the elements transformed the material. Since then, I have never stopped experimenting, and strive to understand the material and develop my own skills.
- What relationship do you have with Venice?
- I feel like it has adopted me. I love life here: you see people creating things all around. Elsewhere, you only see the product. In Venice, I find old ateliers that are still operating. I will add that getting around by boat allows you to feel the city the way it was meant to be experienced.
- What does 'well made' mean to you?
- It means taking the time to do things right, with the right research, know-how and experience, and giving creation the time it needs. Every generation thinks it is making waves. We ebb and flow like the tide.
Diana Dethlefsen is a rising star: she began her career in 2023
Where
Diana Dethlefsen
