Daniele Giannetti
Daniele Giannetti, an Italian artist from Florence, studied Product Design at Central Saint Martins (2015) and earned an MA in Information Experience Design from the Royal College of Art (2018). After completing his studies in London, he returned to Florence in 2019, where he creates terracotta sculptures, sound installations, performances, and paintings. His work explores the intersection of design and spirituality, incorporating holistic practices. Since 2021, he has exhibited internationally at venues such as the V&A Museum and Mint Gallery in London, and has participated in Milan’s Fuorisalone and ModaLisboa in Lisbon, showcasing his innovative artistic approach.
He is captivated by the concept of “emptiness”, not as a void or lack, but as a boundless space of potential. This notion fuels his work, guiding him to create without rigid planning or preconception. He feels compelled to take the clay in his hands and let each piece emerge intuitively, often while listening to music, yet always feeling directed by a force he can only describe as “nothing”. For him, these sculptures remain purely abstract. They may symbolise the unseen—the “quantum fluctuations” that ripple through the void—capturing the essence of something beyond form, a pulse of raw possibility.
He begins by coiling each piece, using only his hands—no tools or sketches. After coiling, he smooths the surface by pinching with his thumb and sometimes his arms, unifying the layers to expand or close sections, shaping the sculpture. This first stage takes about a month. He then allows it to dry naturally for one to two months, depending on the season. Once fully dry, he performs the first firing, transforming it into terracotta. Finally, he applies glaze and fires it again. Altogether, the entire process takes approximately four months from start to finish.
