Antrei Hartikainen

Wood sculptor

©Antrei Hartikainen

©Ville Vappula

All about wood

Antrei focuses on the structural and natural features of his material
Inspiration comes from shapes and surfaces moulded by man and nature
In 2013, he won a silver medal in the WorldSkills competition in Leipzig

Antrei Hartikainen's work is a balancing act. By designing and making multidisciplinary projects, installations, sculptures and a wide range of products from wood he blurs the line between nature and technology, art and design, handicrafts and industrial manufacturing. For him, it is all about wood, and hand carving is his main technique. After wood artisan studies at North Karelia professional colleges and master cabinetmaker studies at Salpaus further education, Antrei worked for Nikari Oy from 2010 until 2016. As well as the day job, he was constantly carrying out his own work and finally, in 2017, he started his own studio helped by a grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation. A year later he became Young Designer of the Year in Finland.

Interview

©Kari Nyyssönen

©Ville Vappula

What inspires your work?: It begins with observation. I want to transfer the vulnerability, frailty and beauty of nature into my material by highlighting structural and aesthetic features. The form and dimensions of my work come from examining landscapes moulded by man, the climate and nature.
How would you define what you do?: I combine traditional woodworking and modern manufacturing with contemporary design. In the combination of art and design, function comes out in a new light or context. I use my material – wood – in an innovative way, pushing its boundaries.
What do you love most about your profession?: Developing and creating things – one of a kind, a limited edition or serial production. The process and the materials excite me. Hand carving is the best way to design smaller products and objects. It feels great when it's in your own hands to find the limits of the material.
Why did you choose woodworking?: In my youth I was always drawing, painting, carving and knitting. My father had a kitchen/woodworking company where I made small works for myself as a hobby, and as his little helper. Later, I had summer jobs there. That led me to vocational school and woodworking studies.

Antrei Hartikainen is a master artisan: he began his career in 2010 and he started teaching in 2016