KADK, Bornholm, Graduation 2015

HANDS ON HANDS OFF A GLASS AND CERAMICS EXHIBITION

Financed by 15. Juni Fonden Gurli og Paul Madsens Fond Augustinus Fonden Otto Bruuns Fond Toyota-fonden Nordea-fonden Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond Cold Stores Fond Sparekassen Bornholms Fond

School of Design, Bornholm Stenbrudsvej 43 DK-3730 Nexø t: +45 41 70 19 70 e: bornholm@kadk.dk w: kadk.dk

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation School of Design, Bornholm

preface Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl At KADK Bornholm, 2015 will particularly be remembered as the year where the first group of students were sent out into the world as officially recognized bachelor graduates, specialized in glass and ceramics. Congratulations to the students first of all and certainly to the institution, which has long merited this status. In a way it’s a strangely quiet transformation, since many students ever since the very start of the school in Nexø, have managed to be accepted for further studies at a range of master education programmes abroad or at the Copenhagen based MA programme. On the very pluralistic scene of contemporary crafts – and craft education - the school has, within a surprisingly short time span, gained a high reputation internationally for its programme, that allows for education towards a broad spectrum of possible artistic profiles. The facilities at Bornholm are known to be of the highest standard and are envied widely among similar institutions.

So, what do the twelve newcomers to the professional ceramics and glass scene bring to the world to marvel at? In what new way are they intent, through their personal engagement, to interpret such culturally deep-rooted and historically loaded materials as glass and ceramics? What contemporary gaze can we expect to detect in their work? How does this youngest generation read their own professional situation, being children of the digital era and its hugely effective spread of the immaterial as a normal condition of our lives? How will all the attention paid to the new role of the maker, brought about by easy networking, new technologies and the sharing of knowledge in open source forums, etc. influence their thinking and their subsequent physical output? In the light of this, what does materiality mean for them? technique? the handmade? and what does the much debated notion of good craftmanship mean? What new appearances of wellknown positions within the world of art- and design objects are we going to meet? How do they see and intellectually justify, beyond the subjective, their own creation in relation to the future existence of their works in our current visually dense and materially cluttered world? In short, what’s at stake for them, just now, at the end of their studies and beginning of their careers?

Obviously, there are at least thirteen different answers to these questions emerging in the 2015 group. The degree show, that this catalogue is accompanying, will reveal professional approaches ranging from classic form-follows-function designwork and narration in the figurative tradition - both using familiar representational forms, to positions that regard the materials as medium, essentially to be experimented with and to be questioned in every aspect, in order to bring forward yet unknown artistic expressions or modes of interaction with life outside of the workshop, the museum or the white cube. The format, or the possible formats, used when showing and disseminating contemporary craft work are constantly up for negotiation. Presentation and use - i.e. giving access to the work in a relevant manner – continues to be a core consideration for the maker. From the newcomers we naturally expect a willingness to take risks with their work; we expect to be challenged in our comfort zone of preconceived ideas about both the actual physical appearance and use of the materials as well as the cultural role(s) of contemporary crafts.

GRADUATES Alice Lebourg Petra Dalström Clara Gewecke Michaël Sinet Lene Dahl Jacobsen Mia Zebitz Larsen Christine Bové Amanda Normark Josefine Kjær Arrildt Richard Lacik Tina Austen Katja de Neergaard Herand Rikke Wulff

Alice Lebourg Glass

STILL

Alice Lebourg

In my work, I intend to sublimate the material glass, its sensibility, preciosity, fragility and delicacy. I aim for simple complexity and strive to capture an atmosphere.

Through experiment, repetition and practice, I enhance my understanding of the material.

Every piece is the result of a process based on intuition, empathy and an atttention to details, making each one of them unique.

e: alice.lebourg@gmail.com

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Petra Dalstrรถm Ceramics

Tankens l채tthet, tidens tyngd Nothing is weightless, even air is material - we just perceive it differently.

My project revolves around gravity as a phenomenon, and how it can be transformed, physically and aesthetically.

Petra Dalstrรถm

Clay gives me freedom, it can be shaped in the same rhythm as my thoughts - but it never appears alone. Transparent glass that converts the light, a thin string, the sound of a water drop - my materials find their purpose based on a specific need.

My point of departure is the characteristics of the materials, and from here, I start to construct.

I am building circuits, machines - things that move, things that can do something. That has a function.

Small details get connected, placed in a fragile system, that is there to be sensed.

Because physical things, are not what is important. It is what happens in the space between things, between us.

w: vimeo.com/tantlava e: pedalstrom@gmail.com t: +45 52 68 30 00

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Clara Gewecke Ceramics

T FOR TABLEWARE

Clara Gewecke

In my work my desire is to create functional products in order to emphasize the qualities of clay as a material. I strive to express the craft in an honest and credible manner to create well balanced ceramic tableware.

e: clara.gewecke@gmail.com

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MichaĂŤl Sinet Glass

Atmosphere

MichaĂŤl Sinet

Glass is my passion. I am fascinated by the limitless expressions that glass can have.

My work, focus and interest are a synthesis between craft and artistic expression.

To challenge new works made in glass, I apply other media in my artistic expression, with the use of a wide range of glass techniques.

e: michael.sinet@gmail.com

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Lene Dahl Jacobsen Glass

The meeting I find it fascinating to assemble and explore materials. This time I use glass, concrete and light and reflect on materials, inherently and aesthetics.

Lene Dahl Jacobsen

Glass , concrete, ceramics , plaster, wood etc. . There are so many exciting materials to work with.

Challenging and rewarding in their own way . I love to explore and combine materials, put them together and end up with a functional product. Trial and error, then finally, succes.

Now THAT is what life is all about.

e: lenedj_11@hotmail.com t: +45 21 86 04 85

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Mia Zebitz Larsen Ceramics

Relations between Clay figures born in fire - they talk without words Our body is expressive and revealing – like a silent storyteller Can you listen with your eyes?

Mia Zebitz Larsen

Ceramics have been by my side throughout my life, but it is only recently that it has caught and consumed me completely. I cherish this material and I particularly love its sculptural possibilities.

Most of my inspiration comes when I work, and I love to let time disappear into the clay. I adore the craft and I have an addiction for ornamentation and details.

My figures are deeply personal and emerge from my everyday life, memories and dreams. They live on the edge of reality and have a life of their own. They express feelings that I find it hard to put into words.

I use clay as narrative material, which tells its own stories from the hidden corners of my subconscious. I wish to invite the viewer into my chaotic universe and behold the world through my eyes.

e: mia1112@gmail.com

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Christine BovĂŠ Glass

Stille spĂŚnding - a sculptural lighting experience; light, form and atmosphere The cultural light: warm, welcoming and embracing. Up high in the north our lives are framed by the lighting. The primary focus of my lamps is to create atmosphere, form and light. As small sculptural features they shine light on life unfolding. With the Scandinavian heritage and design history as a foundation, the lamps comment and embrace the Nordic lighting culture.

Christine Bové

My goal is to create products that with their effortless features singularly claim their right and emphasize the aesthetics of glass. I create products that bring soul to the decor without overshadowing the surroundings; a quiet tension.

A strong line, geometric silhouettes and precision is essential. Minimalism is not the goal, but I use a simple expression to realize a complex and poetic idea. Each piece contains a certain DNA that makes it unique and rich in character. Honest, pure materials in graceful harmony; changing and adding to each other’s character. My approach to design positions me somewhere between ‘less is more’ and ‘less is a bore’.

w: facebook.com/ChristineBoveDesign e: christinebove@hotmail.dk

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Amanda Normark Ceramics

It’s not a flowerpot A tea set that reflects modern culture, a culture in which Danish red clay has been forgotten.

Amanda Normark

As a ceramic artist usability is a high priority for me but at the same time I feel it is important not to forget the visual. When I manage to create items that have both, I have achieved my goal.

I like simplicity and in my works I strive for the simple expression but still with a personal twist.

It is often done with smooth edges, clear colors and organic shapes.

I am a really soft and vulnerable person, so sharp edges and strict geometry will probably not be found in my work.

e: amandanormark@gmail.com

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Josefine KjĂŚr Arrildt Ceramics

Equilibrium

Josefine KjĂŚr Arrildt

I am interested in experimenting with clay and glaze. I do so through shape and surface, where I try to challenge the possibilities and limitations that ceramics have. I focus on the movement that high temperatures activate when ceramics are fired in a kiln and how the glaze freezes in a fluid motion when the temperature drops.

e: josefine.k.arrildt@gmail.com t: +45 22 12 31 72

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Richard LacĂ­k Glass

Pressure I am interested in the juxtaposition of two contrasting but aesthetically balanced materials. Wood, ceramics or other materials wrapped around a glass bubble, pushing and squeezing it so tightly, the glass is trying to escape the knot, like a snake squeezing a balloon where pressure forces the balloon to expand in all unobstructed directions. I want to trap the glass in a net of massive obstacles, which will highlight the escaping glass pieces as the important contrasting component.

Richard LacĂ­k

In my work I am trying to push the limits and test the boundaries of the given topic, creating unexpected results by searching for alternative routes in which a piece could be made. The combination of glass with wood, metal and other materials and contradicting themes such as natural/ industrial or static/dynamic allows me to create an aesthetic piece of large architectural proportions that leaves an impact on viewers, filling their field of view and devouring the spectator into its atmosphere - almost inviting to touch and connect with the piece for a moment.

w: i-bex.deviantart.com e: richard.lacik@gmail.com t: +421 915 240 446

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Tina Austen Ceramics

stol - a study of shape and contrast

TINA AUSTEN

My work with the ceramic material is based on a feeling of curiosity and a playful mindset.

My work is on the borderline between design and crafts. My favored choice of inspiration for my projects can be found in our everyday functional objects. I’m also very interested in contrasts, such as the surface structure in the material or the presence of other materials for interaction with ceramics as a dynamic driving force towards a final shape object.

Ceramics can very often stand alone strong and intense, but I see the presence of other materials as fine support and benefit for gaining a high aesthetic value.

e: tina@austen.dk

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Katja de Neergaard Herand Ceramics

Informal These pieces are a concept of social design, and it is a result of taking functional ceramics where the form is an interpretation of “Danish coziness� aka Dansk Hygge.

Katja de Neergaard Herand

In my work as an artist I make observations and create interpretations in my material - clay.

The inspiration could be anything; a person, a feeling, a piece of music or a social behavior. I then take this inspirational observation and become a filter. My working hands play with the material as I create and design craft objects.

My experience is that you can form whatever you choose with clay. It all depends on what kind of method you use. The clay is like a canvas. I can transform and get endlessly different results by changing the form, structure or glazes. In the big picture I feel ceramics are solid evidences of how humans have tamed the earth materials and have passed on the knowledge about the making of tableware and functional objects throughout centuries and it is a privilege to be a part of this history of craftsmanship.

e: katdenher@gmail.com

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rikke wulff Ceramics

Space and scale experience Personally I really love when something gives me a bodily experience that I have a hard time describing to other people and they have a hard time understanding. It means that there is an emotional thing going on that to me is truly real and important in life.

rikke wulff

My field of ceramic interest lies within glaze and the process from test to fired finished object. I always experiment, it is the best thing I know. My quest becomes a dialogue with my materials - in principal an endless one. The point is to ask the right questions while working and to know when to stop the process. Examples of questions could be as follows: What happens if I add this mineral to the next glaze test? What makes this surface, this form, special? How can I give clay and glaze the right language together? What happens if I place this object in this room?

Glaze is so much more than just a surface or a color. Truly experiencing a glaze can be very intense and bodily. Give yourself the opportunity to really get in to it.

w: rikkewulff.dk e: rikke.wulff@me.com t: +45 22 71 02 78

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Concept and Graphic Design: Rasmus Kvist www.antiloop.dk Photography: Kristine Kiillerich www.kristinekiilerich.com Print: The Print Link www.theprintlink.com