Stine Mikkelsen — Semble
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
The Semble seating bench by Stine Mikkelsen aims to re-contextualise the humble wooden dowel, exploding its scale and altering its purpose to become both the functional driver and aesthetic centre-point of the piece. Constructed entirely from solid ash wood, the bench utilises a mixture of traditional timber turning and high-tech CNC techniques. The soft tone of the ash wood creates a sense of lightness, allowing the stretched out seating area to float atop two over-sized dowel legs.
Material and dimensions:
Ash Wood.
170 x 50 x 61cm.
Year:
2024
PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
Benjamin Lund
LONG DESCRIPTION:
Mikkelsen began the process for Semble by noticing the often hidden hero of many flat-pack furniture pieces, the dowel. This small piece of wood has an instantly recognisable form even though it is recessed and out of sight. Instead of maintaining this hidden connection point, Semble celebrates its ability to join sections of wood without the use of glue. At the same time its form allows the user to intuitively decipher the way in which each component connects with one another without the need for tools. Two over-sized turned timber legs meet an elongated seating platform – the horizontal plane organically rising to meet the dowel connectors that seemingly puncture the flat seating plane. Normally hands-on in the production of each of her projects, Mikkelsen instead utilised modern CNC technology for the construction of the bench in an effort to explore contemporary modes of production. An important focus within the final piece is the tactility and the organic approachability of the form, highlighting human qualities even when utilising technologically focused production methods.
DESIGNER BIO:
Stine Mikkelsen.
Designer, born 1988.
Trained as a textile designer, Danish designer/maker Stine Mikkelsen has kept a love for hands-on, tactile forms whilst delving into alternative practices far removed from her area of study. Since graduating in 2017, she has turned her attention to sculptural objects that intend to re-interpret and study daily functional items. These objects combine a sculptural interpretation of form with material innovations and research, with a focus on artistic principles re-contextualised into sculptural and functional objects. Her unique approach melds craft and design, with research based experimentation – resulting in sophisticated and developed design objects.
EDUCATION:
2017: MA, Textile Design, Kolding School of Design, Denmark.
GRANTS & HONOURS:
2023: Award, Finn Juhl Prize, Finn Juhl Foundation, Denmark.
2020: Nominee, Designer of the Year, Nova Award, Formex, Sweden.
2020: Nominee, Real Danish Design Awards, Denmark.
2020: Project Grant, Danish Arts Foundation, Denmark.
2019: Newcomer Award, Danish Design Awards, Denmark.
2019: Project Grant, The Danish National Bank’s Anniversary Foundation of 1968, Denmark.
2019: Working Grant, Danish Arts Foundation, Denmark.
2019: Project Grant, Danish Arts Foundation, Denmark.
2018: Ein & Zwanzig Award, Germany.
EXHIBITIONS:
2024: 3 Days of Design, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2022: Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2021: The Future Perfect, New York, USA.
2020: London Design Fair, London, England.
2020: Real Danish Design Awards, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2020: 3 Days of Design, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2019: London Design Fair, London, England.
2019: Collectible Design Fair, Brussels, Belgium.
2019: The Art of Sitting, TOOLSGALERIE, Paris, France.
2018: The Cabinetmakers Autumn Exhibition, Thorvaldsens Museum, Denmark.
2018: Dutch Invertuals, Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
2018: Mint Shop, London Design Fair, England.
2018: Paris Design Week, Paris, France.
2018: REform Design Biennale, Munkeruphus, Denmark.
2018: Milan Design Week, Milan, Italy.
2017: Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
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