A candle's point of light
- Lorena crafts candles that others can use to create their own sanctuary spaces
- Her pieces are made with high-quality soy and cotton or wood wicks
- Her atelier's name is inspired by her mother's surname
Drawn by the calming effect of light, Lorena Redondo Santaeulalia found a sacred refuge in dipped and moulded candle making in the rural outskirts of Zamora in Spain. Her journey as an artisan began with a master's degree in makeup artistry specialised in character design and special effects. Upon turning to photography to record her work, Lorena became a successful wedding photographer in Valencia. In 2019, she ventured on a self-taught path in candle making. Her atelier SANTEU is a play on words combining 'SAN', meaning sanctuary, and 'TEU', meaning yours in Valencian. "My minimalist candles carry a ceremonial and ritual aura, setting atmospheres influenced by what I capture through my scenography and photography for weddings and gatherings," she says.
INTERVIEW
A point of light in photography is a small, focused source of light that sets the mood of an image, something that candles embody by inviting presence and stillness. Photography taught me how light defines emotion and space. This helps me design candles as scenographic elements beyond function.
My practice has consistently focused on crafting the ambience for ceremonial and ritual moments, be it personal or in gatherings. Today, I do the same work with candles: crafting meaningful moments with a sense of care.
I am involved in the entire production process, including material research, design, production and branding. Relaunching with minimalist designs as SANTEU, a name derived from Santaeulalia, my maternal surname, signifies a return to myself and evokes calmness, simplicity and a connection to nature.
I am developing a series of short residency courses in a new rural workshop space, with a beautiful river as a backdrop. These retreats are an invitation to pause, reflect and reconnect while learning the craft of candle making in an atmosphere that echoes SANTEU's values.
