Lars Rank

Scandinavian rigour meets Japanese flair

• Lars loves to be creative when working with clay
• The technique he uses is casting in plaster
• His minimal designs are enhanced by his use of glazes

After high school, Lars Rank was planning to become a vet when he took a four-month course in ceramics, and resolved that that was what he wanted to do. He graduated from the Jutland Art Academy in 2001 and has worked on numerous art and design projects, always with ceramics playing a key role. Since 2004, he has specialised in designing and manufacturing high-quality ceramic products for the home. Lars’s work is rooted in the Scandinavian design tradition, and all his products are hand-cast in porcelain, a process that demands both precision and dedication. “The design process is an interaction between the material and the idea,” he explains. “It’s not about controlling the ceramic, but about providing a framework in which it can flourish.”

Interview

©Lars Rank

©Thomas Skyum

Why did you decide to produce everyday objects?

I’ve always liked daily use objects and when I opened my company I felt I needed to be more hands-on in the material. Whereas when you do more conceptual art there is a lot going on in your mind, it’s less practical. It was draining more of me than it was giving back.

How did the Japanese tradition influence your work?

In 2005, I was on a four-month stay at the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in Japan. It really blew my mind! I think that in the Western world we tend to think that things have to be flawless. But in Japan they love flaws in a piece, it adds authenticity.

In what way do you approach your designs?

I always try to work as minimally as possible. There’s not much decoration, it’s all about the shape, the material and the colour. I really like to have a very clean shape that almost acts as a canvas for the glaze.

What does it take to be successful?

Your creations have to evolve with the demand of the people. You have to be aware of what is going on in the design world. I don’t change my designs every six months, but I always have an eye on that industry to get a fuller picture of the situation.

Lars Rank is a master artisan: he began his career in 1996 and he started teaching in 2010

Works

©Ole Akhøj

©Ole Akhøj

©Ole Akhøj

©Ole Akhøj

Where

Experiences

Visit a ceramics workshop in Copenhaghen

From 30 Mins to 60 Mins

800 DKK per group