Ottanio opens the doors of its space to Malles_Shaping Stories.
"Malles" in Tunisian means to shape clay.
The ceramics of Sejnane, produced in a small rural village in Tunisia, have been recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO since 2018—a testament to the cultural and communal value of this unique, all-female ceramic tradition. It is the women of the village who pass down the ancient techniques of shaping and decorating clay to their daughters, preserving a practice that is still alive today.
After months of exchange and collaboration with these women, Malles, a non-profit association, was born with the aim of introducing the ceramics and stories of Sejnane to a European audience. The project is driven by the idea of celebrating the beauty of the objects, the creative process, the nature-inspired forms, and most importantly, the ideas and stories of the women—transformed into material and shape.
Each piece is unique and comes with the story of the artist who created it. Vittoria Capresi, founder of the project, collected the women’s narratives—stories about how they learned the art of ceramics, their creative processes, sources of inspiration, and the challenges of pursuing a craft that is still little known or appreciated. The objects, therefore, speak—becoming the voices of the women who made them.
The ceramics are promoted through special events that present the cultural context of Sejnane, highlighting the artisans' stories alongside the aesthetics of their creations.
The idea for these events was developed through a dialogue between Alessandra Ciampalini and Vittoria Capresi, architects and longtime friends.
Alessandra, founder of Ottanio, proposed dedicating one of her studio’s cultural evenings to Malles. These gatherings focus on design, art, and the culture of beauty, from a female perspective—driven by the belief in the importance of highlighting women’s roles in the creative landscape and supporting projects that combine beauty, research, and meaning.
Ottanio Design Studio created a display for Malles that emphasizes the aesthetic value of each individual vase, playing with the contrast between artisanal craftsmanship and a contemporary, pop-inspired visual language.
