Rick Gerner & Johanne Jahncke

Creating colours from the earth

• Rick and Johanne make glass and ceramic utensils as well as artistic glass
• They were apprentices under Peter Ivy, Steffen Dam and Tobias Møhl
• They took part in the production of wineglasses for restaurant Noma

Dutch-Danish duo Rick Gerner and Johanne Jahncke met at the Royal Danish Academy on the island of Bornholm, from where both graduated in 2016. But while Johanne has been fascinated by glass for as long as she can remember, Rick discovered his passion on Bornholm when he first came in contact with liquid glass. With a communal interest in geology “not from a scientific point of view but from an aesthetic perspective”, they examine soil from around the world and use this knowledge when creating glass and ceramics. This natural material has a very special role in their work. So special that they chose to settle in the Unesco World Craft Region of Bornholm, where the rich subsoil has generated a long artisanal tradition.

Interview

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Why settle on Bornholm?

As it is rich in materials the island has historically been advantageous for ceramicists and industry, and the only place in Denmark stoneware can be sourced. From our common interest in geology, we build our collection of colours to create a coherent, recognisable narrative that gives a sense of being rooted.

What exactly are these soil colours?

Depending on the composition of the soil added to our glass recipes, excavated from various locations, the character and properties vary, resulting into colour and texture nuances. Our glazes, made of soil and water, fire a wide range of colours and textures into the surface of a ceramic body.

How do you combine tradition and innovation?

We use ancient colouring techniques which we adjust to modern manufacturing methods, so it works with modern technology, our hands and our studio equipment. Our goal is to make use of what lies beneath our feet (literally) and what we as craftspeople lean on.

What's the definition of well made, for you?

Well crafted objects connect us to the Earth and everybody on it. A well made object needs to be beautiful, meaningful or useful with an 'honest' appearance, showing where it has come from, what it’s made of and how it is made.

Rick Gerner & Johanne Jahncke are expert artisans: they began their career in 2010

Works

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