Malene Hartmann Rasmussen

Ceramicist

©MHR-V&A

Fuelled by myths and fairytales

Malene’s work often has very personal meaning
She is inspired by Danish myths and legends
She won the Jerwood Makers Open prize in 2015

Malene always enjoyed creative activities including drawing, knitting and crocheting, but she initially pursued her love of arthouse films by becoming a cinema projectionist in her native Denmark. During her 20s she started taking pottery classes with a friend on the weekends, a hobby that grew into something more as she fell in love with the material and started selling functional ceramic pieces at craft markets. When she turned 30 she finally gave up the cinema and went to study ceramics at art school in Bornholm, where she moved from functional work into sculpture. Now, she lives and works in London, where her many achievements include a residency at the V&A museum.

Interview

©MHR-V&A

Why are you inspired by myths and legends?: In northern Europe fairytales trolls and mythological creatures are very present. It’s something I grew up with and something I have always believed in. For instance, I never believed in Santa Claus but I always believed there were small gnomes living in the attic!
What specific techniques do you use?: Mainly hand modelling. I’m not very keen on using too many moulds. When you use a mould you are making replicas, not something original, so sometimes I think it looks a bit dead. I want it to look like I didn’t make them, they made themselves, like they are alive.
What’s your favourite part of your life as an artisan?: Making the objects, modelling the clay, that’s the best part. All the rest – firing and glazing, showing the work and going to private views – you just have to do it. What I really enjoy is sitting in the studio with my dog, listening to music and just modelling.
How would you define craftsmanship?: My professor on my BA course always cared so much about finish, and I care a lot about that now. Putting in that extra half a day’s work to make it a tiny bit better, even though normal people would probably not see the difference – only craftsmen would see the difference.

Malene Hartmann Rasmussen is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2011