Silhouette is a wooden light sculpture that gracefully examines the relationship between light and shadow
Crafted from high-quality European cherry wood and Japanese washi paper, this piece showcases a woven wood mesh that resembles the texture of fabric, offering a feeling of softness that contrasts with the resilient nature of the wood. Illuminated by a changing light from behind, creating a striking visual experience. When light travels through the mesh, it generates individual patterns akin to sunlight streaming through tree foliage, which playfully moves across the paper screen in front. Silhouette serves as a gentle reminder of the intricate human and environmental issues involved in textile production, highlighting the frequently overlooked costs that come with the allure of woven fabrics.
Ø 50 x 12cm
Photo: Ole Akhøj
AKIKO KEN MADE
Akiko Kuwahata and Ken Winther are a team. and are both skilled cabinetmakers, working together or on their own craft projects.
Akiko is of Japanese origin and has gained degrees in Living Space Design at Nihon University, then worked for years as a cabinetmaker in Japan, and later adding studies at the Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark. Over the years, she has continuously worked to refine techniques and design of wooden objects, to explore and use the potential and abilities of natural wood. Most often, they are objects with a utilitarian value beside their obvious clean and utterly fluid design. In a product from Akiko one find little clever details, most often understated – the practical use of magnetic paint, the use of thinly cut wooden strips used for sewing. Quality is key; her products have an unequalled level of finish and are irresistible to touch.
Ken’s interest in woodwork has come naturally as his parents were in furniture manufacturing business. He has furthered his craftsmanship at PP Møbler – a high quality workshop where many of Hans J Wegner furniture is made. Taking a perfectionist approach, he has studied further on lengthy training periods at Japanese carpenter masters. Ken likes to challenge himself as well as the wood to make very delicate products. Examples of such are lathe turned lampshades so thinly they become semi-transparent, another are baskets of pressed veneer sewn with cane cord.
They live in their villa some ways to the north of Copenhagen – with a cabinetmakers workshop built in, of course.
Written by Anne Heiberg, Photo by Maya Matsuura