Telling Stories in Clay - Malene Knudsen Ceramics
Firstly, I need to thank my friend Hannah Trickett for the introduction to Malene Knudsen's ceramics. I can always trust her recommendations and she spoke so highly of her work having taken one of her clay workshops in Copenhagen. Lovers of handmade ceramics - take note!
Her work just beyond breathtaking. I hope I find one under the tree this year. Hint-hint, Rob.
There's something other-worldly about Knudsen's sixteen-piece collection of vases, intended for minimal floral arrangements. And yet, they're based on familiar organic shapes influenced by the natural world. The glimpse of a seed head, the curve of a spine, the bud of a flower.
With a formal background in architecture from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, she Malene began her journey into clay in 2018 and established her studio this year. Growing up near a forest she spent her time collecting and studying flowers, pieces of wood, shells and stones. You can see how these memories have gone on to influence her work.
Each individual 'Swan', 'Shell' and 'Flower' vase is made using a coiling technique before they're shaped into unique forms. The super-raw texture is the result of a mix of coarse firesand, crushed brick and five types of stoneware clay. Unglazed to emphasise the beautiful imperfections, the stoneware naturally fires into warm and neutral tones of cream sand, beige, brown and black.
"I am focused on combining art, design and functionality. It is important for me to design and create objects with a function. I like to combine contrasts between the soft organic shape and the hard material, so my works appear both masculine and feminine with their porous and robust forms. By using only raw stoneware clay, firesand and recycled bricks the objects retain the strong connection to the earth."
Malene Knudsen
Striking and sculptural - the tall Flower Vase, designed by Copenhagen based ceramic artist Malene Knudsen, from raw textured stoneware clay.
You can purchase the Malene Knudsen ceramics collection through her online shop. Prices start from €425.00.
Discover more minimal handmade ceramics from Bergen-based ceramist Laurie Poast.
Images courtesy of Malene Knudsen ceramics.
