Ane Christensen

Metalworker | London, United Kingdom

An artisan of contrasts

Ane started metalworking in evening classes as a teenager
From Denmark, she established her practice in London in 1999
Her favourite technique is hand piercing

Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, Ane Christensen moved to London in 1993 and trained as a jewellery designer, before graduating in metalwork and silversmithing from the Royal College of Art. Her metal sculptures explore the subjects of illusion and balance, space and voids. She always starts with the simple shape of a bowl, then interrupts and deconstructs it by introducing areas of open, delicate structures and patterns, using techniques such as hand piercing, soldering, drilling and patination. She enjoys working in different materials, including silver, gold and stainless steel.

Interview

©Jake Curtis

What’s the essence of your work?: My work is almost always a meeting of contrasts. Calm meeting chaos, heavy meeting delicate, or dark meeting light. I believe this is partly the result of my Scandinavian background and my current life in a big city like London.
What are your sources of inspiration?: One is related to buildings: building sites, ruins and spaces between constructions. Another is the material itself. I enjoy how metal allows me to link contrasting elements within one form.
You started as a jewellery maker. What are you focused on now?: I was concentrating on silver tableware for years but now my work is becoming more abstract. I would say that I make contemporary metalwork which sits in the grey zone between craft, design and sculpture.
Do you still remember the first object you made?: Of course. I made jewellery for my family as a young girl. My mother still wears some of those pieces. Even though the scale of my work has changed, every object I create, in some way, is still a giant piece of jewellery.

Ane Christensen is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1999