Details
Glaze from a wild clay collected in Sicily on a vase wheel-thrown by Enrico Xue.
H. 23 x dia. 24 cm
The piece tells the myth of Odysseus and the Sirens, drawing on the rich tradition of Homeric storytelling.
Odysseus orders his men to plug their ears with wax and has himself bound to the mast of his ship, so that he alone might hear the irresistible song of the Sirens without falling victim to it. As the ship passes the Sirens’ rocky island, their voices call out—promising knowledge, glory, and forbidden truths.
About Clara Holt:
Sonia Pasquinelli, aka Clara Holt, was born in Pescara, Abruzzo. She is an illustrator and a decorator. She completed her classical studies and has always had a passion for classical literature, Greek epics and the surrealist current, which guide her in her research and personal interpretation of her subjects. Each piece is a one-off, illustrated with a drawing inspired by places, mythology or childhood stories.
She works from her studio in Milan.
Artist Q&A
What are your biggest influences?
C: My main influences are mythology (first and foremost Greek mythology, but later I also became fond of Nordic mythology), legends, real or fantastic stories from the remotest places. I love fairy tales and popular storytelling, the stories handed down and those full of symbols, telling us about the most irrational, unconscious and hidden sides of human nature.
Do you plan each piece in advance or do they develop intuitively?
C: I never plan my piece too much in advance. Certainly before I start a decorated piece I read everything I can find about the story I am going to tell. I make a few sketches only when it is a particularly complex and large illustration, or one that has to fit a vase with a very particular shape and surface. But I usually draw directly on the piece, starting with a main character or scene and then building around it a context made up of minor details, secondary characters, and intricate fill patterns.
Can you tell us more about the work featured in our Winter Exhibition
C: The work presented for the exhibition consists of a series of 5 differently shaped vases made in Galicia during my artistic residency in July 2023.
All the vases were wheelthrown in stoneware by Rípula cerámica and decorated with the sgraffito technique and natural clay engobes, telling stories inspired by Galician myths and legends.