TEXTILE ARTIST
LUISA DE SANTI
Luisa De Santi
THE MAGIC IN A THREAD
A broad range of italian traditional yarn techniques like embroidery, needle lace and so on are my main expressive medium. My constant research focuses on experimenting on the expressive potential offered by these techniques, especially in their three-dimensional facets and applications.
My research is based on experimenting. It’s a story about emotions, feelings, colours, textures, research, experimentation and enthusiasm. Threads simply pave the way to playfulness and to a world of infinite creativity. It is a world of unlimited possibilities and unstoppable energy. As life.
Creature 1 (Love doesn’t judge by sight )
This work is the first of a series, with which I try to investigate on the mystery of human empathy. The work includes wearables (garment, headpiece, footwear, fingerswear) and a soft object. The pieces were animated by a human being, realizing a photo set, to create lenticular sequence. On this and on the opposite pages: details and creative process
tecnique: crochet, embroidery, sewing materials: cotton yarns, polyfill, plastic, wire MODEL: Rouge Maudit MAKEUP: Greta Agazzi
Lenticular sequence: https://vimeo.com/225869134
De Santi Trieste (North East Italy)
From as far back as I can remember, there’s never been a time when I haven’t been involved with threads and creative needlework techniques of some sort. Right from my childhood, the fact that it seemed possible to construct practically anything starting from a thread felt absolutely magical to me - a fairy goddess spell, a touch of the supernatural turning into reality. In fact, the fairy tales I loved most were often about shirts woven without seams, fairy creatures creating enchanted dresses overnight, never-ending threads, straw being spun into gold. Everything actually does start from a thread and what always fascinates me, time and again, is the potential a thread has of opening up a world of unlimited possibilities. It is a world of unlimited possibilities where reality and illusion can intertwine. Yarns are like open roads, a medium that can be used to create a world where the bounduaries between reality and desire and hope and illusion do not exist.Threads simply pave the way to playfulness and infinite creativity.
I work on my creations without any sketch. I find that working without sketches and plans is like leaving without a destination: you just enjoy your journey. These process gives me a feeling of freedom and emotion, so is the best way for me. My idea of perfect happiness is the equilibrium between dreams and reality, the harmony of feeling connected with everything that surrounds me, knowing that I am a small
Luisapart of an larger organism that comprehends everything and everyone. I worked in Italy for a long time in the field of puppet theatre in the Historical Podrecca Puppet Company. Since 2000 I work full time as a fiber artist, teaching my techniques and as an author of original patterns for the italian publishing industry and for companies producing yarns. I displayed my collections of textile jewels and accessories at Pitti Cloudnine during the pret-a-porter Moda Donna in Milan. I work for the italian fashion (Dolce&Gabbana fashion Show and Alta SArtoria Firenze) and home decor industry and for private customers. My creations and patterns were displayed at Pitti Filati in Florence. Since 2009 my installations and laboratories are part of the the most famous art&crafts events in Italy (Vicenza, Roma, Milano, Firenze, Torino, Bergamo, Parma, Genova) and abroad (Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney in Australia, Nantes in France and London in UK). I created and organized public installations yarn bombing projects for charities in Italy (Milano, Gorizia, Modena and Trieste). Fidapa BPW Trieste Storica member.
Exhibitions (solo)
2021
Roma Jewelry Week , Knitted Contemporary Jewel - Four Iconic Jewels by Luisa De Santi, International Casa delle Donne Roma IT 2020
Artistic Paths for FIDAPA BPW Trieste Storica, Trieste IT 2019
Knitting&Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace London UK spring edition Textile Gallery “Magical Crochet Spells” Little Gardens Bottega Artigiana for Miniartextile in Busto Arsizio, Busto Arsizio IT Magical Crochet Spells, Studio Gasperini, Trieste IT
Knitting&Stitching Show, Olimpia Palace London UK autumn edition Textile Gallery “Magical Crochet Spells” 2017 Joie de vivre, installation and solo exhibition, Creattiva, Bergamo, Italy 2014 “The happiness of a star” Mostra del Ricamo e del tessuto artigianale Valtopina, Perugia IT 2013 Yarn Creatures, Palazzo Bonin Longare, Vicenza, IT
Exhibitions (collective)
2022
Paratissima Circus Art Fair, “June! Un gioco da ragazzi” Torino IT 2021
BID Biennale Internazionale Donna (a contemporary art exhibition of women artists) MAG26 (Historical Treadin Harbour in Trieste), Trieste IT 2020 Art Paper International 2020 Galerie L’Atelier, Hunibach, Switzerland 2019
Paratissima Art Fair , NICE section “L’altro capo del filo”, Torino IT
BID Biennale Internazionale Donna (a contemporary art exhibition of women artists) MAG26 (Historical Treadin Harbour in Trieste), Trieste IT
Installations and performances
2022
AESON Festival (arts in a natural enviroment) Parco Isonzo Fiumicello (Udine) IT
Art YelloWoman textile collective installation for charity (in favour of Italian Endometriosis Society), Fittke Gallery of the Municipality and Mercato Coperto Trieste (historical covered market) 2021
Imago Cells Installation for Progetto Area Giovani Municipality of Trieste in 53rd Barcolana Regatta - Trieste Imago Cells - performing textiles, Sharpers Night -Trieste IT 2020 textile installation site specific and performance in collaboration with Indiemotion (Berlin- Italy): AESON Festival (arts in a natural enviroment) Secret event Parco Isonzo Fiumicello (Udine) IT InsOrti Performative arts Festival, Bologna IT
With a Thread - from Art to Geometry for Science in the city Festival pro ESOF 2020 Trieste IT 2017
Tree Yarn Bombing, Festival Filosofia, Villa Giacobazzi Sassuolo IT Magia, performance in duo con Rouge, per Liberarti, Palazzo Costanzi, Trieste IT
2015
Installation “Vela della solidarietà” for the Barcolana Regatta, Trieste, Italy International Project and Installation “A Guinness Carpet” for charity (fundraising for AISM Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla Trieste).
Crochet Day: Flash Mob and performance in Piazza della Scala - installation in Brera, Milano, Italy
2014
Yarn Bombing: “A scarf for Saba, Svevo and Joyce”, Trieste, Italy 2013
“Yarn Bombing at full speed”, on Harley Davidson and Filandi Uragano Supercar, Modena, IT “Super Market: installation and public performance”, Historical Market, Gorizia, Italy “Yarn Bombing at the Parck”,Villa Coronini Cromberg Public Parck, GoriziaIT
PUBLICATIONS
2022 Knit Encyclopedia (Giungi - Demetra) Crochet for Beginners (Crafterie Press)
2017 Magical Crochet Spells (engl) Magie di Filo all’uncinetto (it) (self published)
2015 Crochet Encyclopedia (Centauria Creativa Publishing)
2014/15 Crochet Encyclopedia(RCS and Fabbri Publishing)
2014 Patchwork all’uncinetto (self published)
2013 Bambole Dolls (Nuova S1)
2012 Crochet Encyclopedia (RCS Publishing)
2009/2011 Gioie di Filo, La mia primabambola, Stelle&Caramelle, Fantasie all’uncinetto, Pazze per il crochet, Al calduccio con Fantasia (self published)
Crochetdoll di Luisa De Santi Via Settefontane 55 34139 TRIESTE IT Instagram @luisa_desanti luisa.desanti@crochetdoll.it WhatsApp: 39-3249018475