Kristian Olsen Frandsen

Snedkersind

Cabinetmaker

©Kristian Frandsen

New Nordic style

Kristian set up Snedkersind workshop in 2016
He won the Emerging Designer Maker Award in 2018
He studied traditional hand tools in Japan

For cabinetmaker Kristian Frandsen, there is a great pleasure in mastering the use of your hands to create a perfect piece of craftsmanship. It connects you with the material, and ultimately with nature, in a mysteriously fulfilling way. In the late 2000s, the Danish forests brought with them a breath of fresh air and inspiration, and after a technical foundation course in cabinet making Kristian became a dedicated apprentice to the Royal Craftsmen at the Danish Court. His works are meticulous, minimalist, technically surprising and carry his signature new Nordic style. In 2016 he established his workshop, Snedkersind, in his native, spacious Jutland where he lives and works.

Interview

©Kristian Frandsen

©Kristian Frandsen

What was your first piece of work?: After setting up my workshop, I created the sculptural piece "Ilive" for The Danish Cabinet Makers Association 25th Anniversary exhibition. Before my workshop, I created a small handcarved piano to accompany my late uncle in his coffin.
What do you love most about your profession?: Refining the material, being present and the creative process from thought to the physical manifestation. I am like a squid in my workshop, finding solutions to everything, but I do have a deep affinity for making unique containers.
How is your craft linked to Denmark?: We have a strong tradition of cabinetry and design in Denmark, and I work within this tradition. I was inspired by wood and by putting my hands to use. In Danish we describe a person like me as a "formgiver".
What is a memorable moment in your career?: My professional life is also my personal life. Each day has memorable moments, as long as you remember to look up from the workbench from time to time.

Kristian Olsen Frandsen is a master artisan: he began his career in 2011 and he started teaching in 2015