Porcelain between gesture and the unexpected
- Elsa works mainly with porcelain and stoneware
- Her inspirations range from painting and literature to everyday life and the natural world
- She embraces the element of surprise in her final objects
Elsa Dinerstein first turned to clay through organic and marine-inspired forms that set the tone for a journey she continues today. Trained in applied arts with a focus on ceramic design, she has been practising her craft since 1998. She combines traditional ceramic techniques such as wheel throwing, moulding and glazing with a contemporary design sensibility. Mostly working with porcelain and stoneware, Elsa makes unique pieces as well as small collections. Her approach is about taking clay to the edge of its possibilities while staying open to what the material wants to do. “The time we spend working with clay allows us to master techniques, and not the material itself,” she says. Through her work, Elsa aims to share a vision of the world shaped by universality and humanism.
Interview
- How would you describe your work?
- My practice is rooted in an experimental and spontaneous approach. I like to mix materials and rethink processes to see where that can lead. The balance between gesture and technical skill often brings out unexpected results, such as pieces with different layers of meaning, almost like a metaphor for life.
- How does a creation come to life in your studio?
- Usually it starts with a constraint, or sometimes just a question I want to explore. I take notes, sketch and collect references. Step by step, the process narrows down, until only one or two directions remain worth pushing further.
- What life lesson have ceramics taught you?
- I learned to be persistent but not rigid. Working with clay every day means accepting surprise and even accidents, as they can be part of the work. It is about patience and letting go of control.
- What role does the environment play in your practice?
- The environment is central to my practice. I try to make pieces that will last and are not tied to trends, because I want to limit my impact on nature. Every stage of making is accomplished with that in mind.
Elsa Dinerstein is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1998
Where
Elsa Dinerstein
