Meeting with Katia Chaulet, in her ceramic workshop “Terre d'Aunis” located in the town of Aigrefeuille d'Aunis.
Gently lit by the rays filtering through the glass roof, Katia's workshop is revealed. His trademark" ? A fine ceramic, extremely light, almost aerial. Flowers, dragonflies, ferns…. Both the patterns and the colors are greatly inspired by nature. What Katia appreciates is this “raw natural” side; and although some ceramics are entirely enamelled, others keep a raw exterior to reconnect with the material.
To obtain this lightness, it does not "turn", but "flows” liquid earth in plaster moulds. A necessary but difficult to find material. Old molds from a factory in Limoges complete its collection, old shapes brought up to date. Everything then is a delicate question of proportioning, to obtain finesse and solidity of the parts! Then the pieces are decorated by hand…
Apart from tableware, Katia creates porcelain lights. A land that allows him to play with transparency and light. She then likes to combine materials, bring plants to the earth... and mix braiding (rafia, seagrass) with porcelain.
Ceramic "Terre d'Aunis""
Creativity is free and without limits. The technique is learned day by day.
Katia Chaulet in her studio-boutique “Terre d'Aunis”
Self-taught, Katia embarked on this new activity in 2017. “The workshop is a place of experimentation and creation”; it will take 2 years before mastering the different techniques. “The technique is learned day by day” she tells us. She tries different things, tests and creates until she gets the shapes she likes. The ceramic then goes to the oven twice, up to 1245°C for enamelling. Each creation therefore takes time: 2 weeks, sometimes even a month from casting to the finished product. A meticulous and patient work that allows to obtain unique pieces.
Katia's ceramics and lighting can be discovered throughout the year in its Aigrefeuille workshop-boutique, at the entrance of its lodgings (call before going there). She also exhibits in a designer association shop in La Rochelle, rue Saint Nicolas.
