Dina Nur Satti

Dina Nur Satti is a Brooklyn-based ceramic artist originally from Sudan and Somalia. She was raised in France and Kenya and has called NYC home for 16 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International & Intercultural Studies with a focus on the cultures of Africa and the Middle East. Her pursuit of ceramics was born out of her studies in African art and pre-colonial African societies, and an interest in learning how ritual objects and spatial design elevate experiences. She often travels throughout Africa from Morocco to Ethiopia to meet with communities upholding ancient methods of craft, and to research the use of objects in ceremonial traditions. Dina connected to clay as a medium not only because of a passion for design and ceramics. Ceramics is a vessel, a container through which she explores ideas of personal purpose and growth, as well as our collective transitions, cultural storytelling, and communal rituals.

Artist Statement: Design in traditional contexts cannot be removed from function. Whether a vessel holds a physical or intangible purpose- function influences form, and form function. The pieces in this presentation are an exploration of traditional shapes and plant symbols found in the Nubian culture bordering the North Eastern region of the Sahara desert, in modern day Northern Sudan and Southern Egypt. Two vessels represent clay shapes that were essential to survival in the desert climate- the water storage clay amphorae and wood grain pounder, while two others designs are anchored in the mystical and symbolic properties of plants which were essential to the ritualistic and spiritual aspects of this culture.