Simon Johns
Furniture maker
East-Bolton, Canada
Reconciling aesthetic, function and craft
- Simon develops process-driven methods to produce furniture from wood and ceramics
- He draws inspiration from geological formations and mineral landscapes of the Eastern Townships
- Technical precision and excellence in the finished form underpin his approach
Simon Johns is a designer-maker who works above all with wood and clay, and experiments with other materials as part of his research. Trained in fine art at Concordia University, he began his career in carpentry and set design. A visit to New York Design Week spurred him to establish his own studio in the Eastern Townships of Québec in 2011. "My aim is to combine function, art and craft in my collections," says Simon. His practice is driven by process: he sets constraints and develops systems that introduce a degree of unpredictability. The aesthetic of his work originates in the lakes, mountains, cliffs and sedimentary rocks surrounding his studio. Wood is scored, carved and fractured to reference geological formations; clay is pressed into moulds without full visibility of the outcome, then glazed to emphasise variation and surface complexity.
INTERVIEW
I studied fine art, and I grew up around craft. After university, I worked in carpentry and set design. Around 2015, I shifted toward furniture. I wanted to combine function, art and craft in a single practice, which is what became the focus of my studio.
The landscape around me has a big influence with its cliffs, stone and sediment layers. I am interested in irregular geometries and natural formations. I try to translate this into objects. My making process follows that intention, while also shaping the final result.
I build processes that leave space for chance. In wood, I score and carve to break the grain so the material reacts unpredictably. In ceramics, I work with moulds but can never fully see the outcome until the piece is released from the kiln.
I hope they see that it is a balance. Functional design, a strong aesthetic and precise craftsmanship come together in my pieces. No one of these dominates the others. The object has to work, catch the viewer’s attention and be made with excellence. This combination is what defines my practice.
Simon Johns
Furniture maker
East-Bolton, Canada
ADDRESS
Address upon request, East-Bolton, Canada
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
LANGUAGES
English, French
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