At our core.
Studio Enti is a ceramic studio located in Sydney that specialises in handmade lighting. Led by Naomi Taplin and supported by a team of skilled craftspeople who work together to create unique lighting solutions. The team at Studio Enti use traditional techniques to craft each lighting fixture, ensuring that every piece is one-of-a-kind. Their collection includes a variety of pendant lights, wall lights and sconces all made using high-quality ceramic materials.
Studio Enti is a genuine small-scale enterprise, filled with a highly dedicated and hardworking team. The success of our production is attributed to our ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a tight-knit unit. While there are moments where solitary work is essential to harness creativity, focus and output, we also understand the significance of teamwork in achieving our production goals. Together, we navigate the challenges of the industry, leveraging our individual strengths and complementing one another's weaknesses. It's the perfect balance of individuality and teamwork that propels Studio Enti forward, allowing us to deliver an exceptional product to our audience.
There is a beautiful flow to studio life with parameters that stretch from ‘beautifully chaotic to beautifully disastrous, to beautifully productive’. No two days are ever the same, much like the pieces we craft.
For smooth work flow and production we have a number of ‘areas’ assigned by task that require diligent service by the person or people most apt at their helm. Pouring - trimming - kiln loading - glazing - kiln loading/unpacking/sanding/packing and dispatch…. each process completely manual. Slow - and requiring intense attention to detail.
To craft one piece requires the hands of many, and each maker imbues a little of their hand - their ‘mark’ - into a piece. This is the true joy of handmade - there is a presence in an object that is carefully, lovingly and deliberately made to be on this earth.
Pouring is a manual feat, but is also a test of patience - a test of one’s ability to repeat practices knowing that in theory if you do A, B & C you should get D…but the reality of working with changeable natural materials, changeable weather, changeable human-ness… that it takes a level of skill and precision to get consistently functional and beautiful results. Working alone is cathartic, but physically tough. Getting into flow as a team helps to move through the processes.
Trimming can be very peaceful and methodical - there can be enough headspace to listen to a podcast or (god forbid), the inner workings of one’s mind. But that level of being in the zone comes from substantial experience and practice. The skill required to be precise with the nuance of finishes required is hand earned. A large array of products with numerous applications, means the knowledge base for trimming is vast. Eg. commercial vs domestic in tableware, trimming for translucency vs opacity and all the variations in between with lighting. The feat of constantly handling bone-dry/leather hard porcelain over an entire day, inherently challenging.
I love watching our guys in their zone when trimming. There's something mesmerising about witnessing the precision and skill that goes into transforming a piece of porcelain into a perfect pre-fired beauty. The satisfaction that comes with wet sponge in hand, smoothing out the imperfections and bringing out the potential of each piece is unparalleled. It's a delicate dance, a symphony of artistry and technique, as they carefully shape and refine the clay, creating something that will eventually bring joy to someone's life. The dedication and passion that our trimmers pour into their work is truly inspiring, and I can't help but admire their craftsmanship.
In a time when ‘making’ implores a relative crisis of conscience due go the enormous weight on the earth’s resources, knowing that our work is going out into the world having been carefully chosen to be loved, eases the burden somewhat.
Studio Enti understands that, beyond their aesthetic appeal, handmade creations hold a deeper value for both the creator and the beholder. By choosing to support handmade craftsmanship, individuals become patrons of not only the arts but also the preservation of time-honored techniques and traditions.
As a team, Studio Enti constantly pushes boundaries, exploring innovative techniques within their contemporary designs, thus ensuring that their creations remain relevant. Whether it's a captivating centerpiece for a grand foyer or a subtle illumination for a cozy corner, Studio Enti is committed to providing unparalleled craftsmanship, attention to detail, and personalized solutions that elevate any space to new heights. Each Studio Enti piece is imbued with the collective wisdom and vision of the artisans who have poured their heart and soul into its creation.
Porcelain Orbs, image shot by Georges Antoni. Studio shots (above) by Ainsley Johnstone.