Human Landscape

Just as natural forces shape natural landscapes, life experiences interact with our inner essence, our body, and emotions, leaving marks that define our identities, layering and shaping us over time. Each of us is a human landscape.

Clay is the material with which I feel the most connected to the natural landscape, due to its unique nature and texture. I explore the relationship between structure and transformation. In my pieces, I replicate natural processes. I layer the clay, press it, and sculpt it; the movements are repetitive, but none give identical results.

These wearable sculptures tell stories of metamorphosis over time, mirroring the human experience—the fragile balance of internal conflict and change, and the lasting imprints of the external world.

Human Landscape n.1, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in 3 terracotta), 925 silver (oxidized) and steel

Human Landscape n.1, back

brooch size: 6.5x8.5x0.7cm; 34 gr

Human Landscape n.2, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in terracotta), silverplated copper and steel

Human Landscape n.2, back

brooch size: 5x7.2x0.7cm; 35 gr

Human Landscape n.3, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), 925 silver and steel

Human Landscape n.3, back

brooch size: 9.5x3.7x0.8 cm, 27 gr

Human Landscape n.4, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), 925 silver and steel

Human Landscape n.4, back

brooch size: 8.8x3.5x0.8 cm, 21 gr

Human Landscape - Il Rinascimento, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), 925 silver and steel

Human Landscape - Il Rinascimento, back

brooch size: 10.5x3.5x0.7 cm, 30g

Human Landscape - The Inception, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), silver plated and oxidized copper, and steel

Human Landscape - The Inception, back

brooch size: 9.5x5x0.7 cm, 25 gr

Human Landscape - The Vortex Within, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), 925 silver and steel

Human Landscape - The Vortex Within, back

brooch size: 9.x3.5x0.8 cm, 34 gr

Human Landscape - The Friction Point, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), 925 silver and steel

Human Landscape - The Friction Point, back

brooch size: 9.x3.7x0.8 cm, 34 gr

Human Landscape, the Independent Thinker, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), 925 silver, copper, and steel

Human Landscape, the Independent Thinker, back

brooch size: 9.x4.5x0.7 cm, 22 gr

The working process...

My process begins with sketches of figures inspired by the underlying concept. Clay is worked into fine layers, cut to uniform size, and stacked

in colored compositions using the nerikomi technique. Figures are cut, carved, and sculpted with metal tools, then smoothed with tulle.

After firing at 1100°C, each piece is polished with a sandpaper wheel. I then design the metal frame, planning the front, back, and brooch mechanism.

The frame components (silver or copper) are hand-sawn, melted, shaped, soldered, and oxidized. Finally, the clay figure is set within the metal frame like a stone.

Human Landscape n.05 (issu), front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), 925 silver, copper, and steel

Human Landscape n.05 (issu), back

brooch size: 9.x3.1x0.7 cm, 22 gr

Human Landscape n.06 (essa), front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), 925 silver, copper, and steel

Human Landscape n.06 (essa), back

brooch size: 8.5.x3x0.7 cm, 22 gr

Human Landscape, Our Souls at Night n.01, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), 925 silver, silver-plated copper, and steel

Human Landscape, Our Souls at Night n.01, back

brooch size: 7.x6.5x0.8 cm, 25 gr

Human Landscape, The Peace Makers n.01 and n.02, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), 925 silver (01), silver-plated copper (02), and steel

Human Landscape, The Peace Makers n.01 and n.02, back

brooch size: 8.5.x3x0.7 cm, 22 gr (01); 7.x2.8x0.7 cm, 20 gr (01)

The Evil Eye (Il Malocchio)

The malocchio (“evil eye”) is an ancient Italian notion, believed to cause misfortune or illness (headache, anxiety, nausea) through envious or admiring glances.

To remove it, elderly women perform the oil-and-water rite: a bowl of water is blessed with secret prayers, then three, five, and seven drops of olive oil are added. If the oil spreads, the evil eye is present; if it stays whole, it’s absent. The ritual is repeated three times, symbolizing the Trinity. Relief usually follows quickly.

The practice is passed down within families, taught traditionally on Christmas Eve. This “strange tradition” inspires my piece, we are all observers and observed, needing to be healed.

Human Landscape - The Evil Eye, front

brooch in layered ceramic (nerikomi in gres porcelain), 925 silver and steel

Human Landscape - The Evil Eye, back

brooch size: 9.1x4.5x0.8 cm, 30 gr

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