Umut Lucas Espenaer

Furniture maker

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Honouring heritage through reclaimed wood

Umut is a self-taught carpenter
His work is inspired by a 20th-century aesthetic
He specialises in working with hand tools and traditional methods

Carpentry has been Umut Lucas Espenaer's hobby since childhood. "I remember that I carved a very elementary shape out of a piece of scrap wood." Having studied for a masters in Political Science and International Relations, Umut secured a position as a lecturer, and simply practised carpentry by constructing his own furniture. After years of teaching himself, he eventually decided to leave the university and embark on a new journey, setting up his own atelier in 2016, with a display cabinet made from reclaimed wood as his debut piece. Aside from demonstrating his regenerative and resourceful vision with his choice of material, he also stresses the legacy of traditional craft. "It is a pity that innovation usually leads to the abandonment, and eventually loss, of traditional knowledge in the crafts. I have decided to focus on preserving these traditional skills." In parallel, Umut is currently involved in a social project offering opportunities for disadvantaged youth to discover the craft of carpentry.

Interview

What are your sources of inspiration?
In terms of style, I’m inspired a lot by early 20th-century styles like Art Nouveau and Art Deco, but also by earlier styles. Then I'm inspired by sustainability, so I try to incorporate this into my practice by using reclaimed and salvaged wood.
How is your craft linked to the Netherlands?
Woodworking is a craft that has a long history in Amsterdam and the Netherlands in general. In the heyday of the Dutch Republic in the 17th century, craftsmen were known for their excellence in building ships for Dutch merchants and the navy.
What is your experience of using hand tools only?
A lot of skill and effort is involved to create a perfectly flat surface just by hand, without the use of any machines. An experienced craftsman can do this in a matter of minutes, whereas a layman will spend many hours and still not get the surface perfectly flat.
Could your craft be considered in danger?
Fortunately, there is still some interest among youngsters for furniture designing and making, and from what I hear, the furniture school here in Amsterdam has a steady influx of students. However, I do think that the traditional way of making furniture is in danger.

Umut Lucas Espenaer is a rising star: he began his career in 2016 and he started teaching in 2017

Works

Where

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Address: Dr. Jan van Breemenstraat 1A, 1056 AB, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hours: By appointment only
Languages: Dutch, English

Experiences

Woodworking classes in Amsterdam2.5 hours per week235 EUR per person