Claire-Lise Backes, the luminous

"Everything stimulates me and carries my creativity: the greenery so present in Luxembourg, the twittering of the birds, the cracking leaves under the footsteps..." This is how Claire-Lise Backes expresses herself. The creator of SaKaNaNa has opened her doors to talk to us about what motivates and guides her artistic expression.

Claire-Lise, can you tell us about your background...

In order to help me regain my health, my husband offered to paint. The beginnings were not easy, I started by attacking all the doors of our house (laughs) and little by little a creative process took place which, the more time passed, the more satisfaction and extraordinary happiness I felt. The certainty of being in my place, as if aligned. From "mom bug", the nice nickname my children had given me during the severe depression that hit me, I went from being a "mom bug" to being a fulfilled artist. A new personality, a new life. It's a true resurrection that I enjoy every day.

What are your sources of inspiration?

The nature that surrounds me and what I feel in my heart! My paintings reflect the good mood, the joy of life, the positive energies of the universe. I truly felt a tsunami of gratitude and blessings when I realized that I could suddenly use such a palette of colors to express emotions I didn't know I had. When I paint, the shapes come naturally, as if by some miracle. My hand is as if guided, as if I am shaping pure energy. My husband has never ceased to encourage me, I owe him everything.

Tell us about your famous SaKaNaNa, well known in the Grand Duchy and internationally, it seems.

My paintings radiate such energy that I thought it was a pity they were locked in a room. But how do you get the paintings out into the street and allow as many people as possible to enjoy them? By painting directly on leather bags of excellent quality, made in Italy (Vegan leather is also possible). The Walking Paintings'Concept was born this way (smiles). And the first time I made one, during a painting exhibition, a German tourist entered the gallery and, conquered by this idea and this audacity, insisted on buying the bag. That marked the beginning of the adventure! Each bag becomes a unique piece because of the mini-painting that I paint on it with love; there are currently about sixty different and emblematic pictorial themes, such as the Gëlle Fra or Grand Duchess Charlotte for the Luxembourg identity, but also golfers, skiers, English women, zip-lines, etc... etc.

Are you happy about this partnership with the Luxemburger Wort Wortshop?

Yes absolutely! You will be able to find SaKaNaNa but also scarves made in India using some of my designs. Hand-painted wine, cognac and champagne glasses, as well as small paintings of 10/10 cm or 5/7 cm, unique pieces, will also be available at the Wortshop.