Nadia Saponaro

SVO Ceramic

Ceramicist

©Susanna Pozzoli

A narration of exploration through pottery

Nadia creates unique and original stoneware for everyday use
Texture and sensory experience are the cornerstones of her work
Her personal experimentation revolves around travelling

Nadia Saponaro graduated in Foreign Languages and Literature from Venice, without ever giving up her drawing, painting and sculpture lessons. During a trip to southern Spain, she discovered the art of pottery in an atelier in Cadiz. On returning to Venice, Nadia embarked on a journey to discover the ancient art of ceramics. In the process, she accumulated both practical and theoretical experience, not least through frequenting and working with the I Bochaleri pottery association. In 2018, Nadia opened her own studio, where the clay is transformed into practical and artistic ceramics alike. She crafts entirely handmade collections, tableware sets and one-off pieces. She makes objects based on the narrative power of clay. Her pieces become part of people's everyday lives, telling a story and offering an intense, immersive experience.

Interview

What does clay represent to you?: It is a mistress of life itself: it forces me to confront the reality of the material and its limitations, and to tackle problems with creativity and imagination in order to convey experiences and emotions through my work. It is not just a material that I have chosen, it is a way of life.
What relationship do you have with colour, and how do you go about choosing your glazes?: Colour is a vibration which is connected to both form and texture. Its strength lies in the balance or contrast it strikes with the other two elements. Depending on the feelings I want to evoke, I use whites, blacks and all their tones to create relaxing objects or strong, bright, shiny colours to stimulate perception.
How important is experimentation?: Technological experimentation raises questions about the physical and chemical limits of ceramics and allows me to explore combinations of different materials. Aesthetic experimentation is what underpins the new collections: in bridging the three basic elements (shape, colour and texture) I explore different functional and narrative approaches.
What do people usually not know about your work?: Having your own studio involves making big sacrifices. An artist's workshop is the most intimate place he or she has. The feelings evoked by the items on display are shared with members of the public, and this creates an open dialogue. When this space is not respected, the artist feels hurt and robbed of his or her own personal environment.

Nadia Saponaro is a master artisan: she began her career in 2011 and she started teaching in 2016