Per Brandstedt

Woodworker

©Francis Howard

An explorer of wood

Per has a very curious mind
He enjoys discovering the world
Artist residencies are his source of inspiration

When Per Brandstedt decided to discontinue his degree in physics, move to the Swedish countryside and work for a carpenter specialised in renovating traditional wood buildings, he discovered his calling. “What fascinated me was that everything was done 200 years ago by hand with simple tools." After a 1-year formal education and a few years working in a joinery, he enrolled in a 3-year diploma course at Capellagården in Öland, Sweden, where he focused on traditional Swedish woodwork like relief and marquetry. Per opened his first workshop immediately after graduating in 1983, an enterprise that has not been easy as a husband and father of three. “I have never made a lot of money with my work, but I have been fortunate to travel around the whole world.”

Interview

©Francis Howard

©Francis Howard

Why did you choose wood?: A lot of it has to do with the tactility as the surface and texture is very important; I like the touch of wood. I think of wood as a slow material because you have time for reflection during the making process, which suits my personality.
How are your works tied to the local region?: Trees grow everywhere in Scandinavia and wood is used abundantly. It has been like this for thousands of years, so I think that besides Japan and Northern America, we are in touch with wood in many more ways than other places.
Do you come across ethical issues in your profession?: My main source of wood is from a sawyer nearby who tries to buy every oak tree taken down in the area. As I work alone, I use between 500 and 1000 locally grown logs per year, which is a sensible way of using wood. I do not touch imported woods anymore.
What was a defining moment for you?: An artist residency in 1989 in north Japan was very important for me. I worked in a small wood workshop that mainly made furniture and also very fine woodwork like boxes, vessels and chopsticks which were technically advanced and extremely well made.

Per Brandstedt is a master artisan: he began his career in 1983 and he started teaching in 1989