We recently had the chance to connect with Lunna Pigatto and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lunna, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
For the longest time, I was wandering, and I loved it. I lived a nomadic life for over a decade, allowing myself to be open, curious, and guided by whatever life was calling me to do next. Wandering taught me to trust, to adapt, and to embrace the unexpected gifts along the way.
Now, I still want to keep that openness, and I’ve also learned the importance of pausing, looking within, and staying aligned with my values and dreams. Over the past ten years, I’ve begun to see a path emerging, one guided by what I affectionately call my “bananas.” By following them, I’ve found myself stepping more fully into my role as a climate activist, artist, and facilitator.
This path is calling me to take center stage more often, to guide sustainability and regenerative mindset workshops, and to help people and teams reconnect with themselves and with Mother Earth.
I’ve found my banana. What’s yours?
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Lunna Pigatto, a strategic designer, multidisciplinary artist, and the founder of VAINANA, an artistic project that transforms food waste, especially banana peels, into creative expressions that spark conversations about sustainability, regeneration, and our relationship with the planet.
For nearly a decade, I’ve been photographing banana peels around the world, what started as a playful act has evolved into a deeply symbolic practice. The banana has become my compass, a way to talk about waste, care for Mother Earth, and our need to rethink daily habits with creativity and hope.
What makes my work unique is the blend of activism, resilience and creativity. I don’t just create images or installations, I design experiences and workshops that invite people and communities to reconnect with themselves and with nature, while imagining more sustainable futures together.
Right now, I’m expanding VAINANA beyond art exhibitions into more community-centered collaborations, climate initiatives, and regenerative mindset workshops. My goal is to show that creativity isn’t just about making art, it’s a tool we can all use to heal, to connect, and to reimagine how we live on this planet.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the moments that completely shaped how I see the world happened in March of 2017, while I was living in Milan during my Master’s in Design Strategy. It was one of those rainy, grey days the city is known for, and I was on my way to take a friend to the train station. Along the way, I noticed a bright yellow banana peel on the wet concrete, the color popped so vividly against the grey skies and pavement that I had no other option but to pause and appreciate its beauty.
I took a photo of it, without really knowing why, but that simple act changed the trajectory of my life. Looking back, I think that was the day I began “speaking banana language.” It felt like a call, an invitation to pay attention to the everyday beauty and meaning hidden in what we usually dismiss as waste. Since then, the banana has become my symbol and my compass, guiding me to embrace creativity as a tool for fighting food waste, advocating for sustainability, and honoring Mother Earth.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There are days when I ask myself, “Should I give up? This too hard.” It’s almost a daily thought. My project has never been about profit, it’s been about purpose. For years, I’ve guided workshops, curated art exhibits, and given talks, often offering them freely because I truly believe in what the bananas have to say.
But the reality is that, like anyone else, I need to support myself financially. It’s a constant battle: pouring energy into building VAINANA, receiving recognition as a climate shaper, while at the same time searching for work that aligns with my values and gives me the flexibility to keep this vision alive. Most days, that math simply doesn’t add up.
There are moments when I fear I’ll have to bend to the system, to compromise for the sake of just making money. But then I pause, pray, and ask the universe, and the bananas, to guide me toward abundance. And every time, something reminds me to keep going. It’s not easy, but my commitment to integrity and to Mother Earth gives me the strength to walk my path.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The belief I am committed to, no matter how long it takes, is that no matter how small our actions may seem, each of us exists in this world with a unique magic, and it’s our responsibility to use it for something bigger than ourselves. We are stewards of the planet, caretakers of one another, and carriers of love, no matter the recipient.
This commitment starts with loving ourselves first: nurturing our mind, body, and soul, and uncovering the blockages and limiting beliefs that prevent us from seeing life from a wider perspective. By doing so, I can advocate for empowerment, help others tap into their creativity, and contribute to the greater good, which, ultimately, is the well-being of all existence.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as someone who spoke words of love and made life a little lighter for those around me. There’s a question I once heard that has guided me every day: “What if your smile is the only thing someone gets today?” I hope my legacy is rooted in that care, in small acts of kindness, and in the joy and light I tried to bring into the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vainana.com
- Instagram: @vainana_
- Linkedin: lunnapigatto
