Daniel Freyne

Metalworker

©Daniel Freyne

Breaking iron rules

Daniel graduated in Fine Art from Gothenburg University in Sweden
He deliberately overheats or underheats metal to create cracks and fissures
His work has been exhibited in London, Edinburgh, Stockholm, Paris and Zurich

It all began on an open day for an agricultural college near Edinburgh. Daniel Freyne was 14 years old and after hitting hot metal for the first time, he was captured by the material and the craft of blacksmithing. He carried out a five-year apprenticeship with Ratho Byres Forge in Edinburgh, where he learned the ins and outs of the craft – from small traditional metalwork to large public artworks. After this, he embarked on his journeyman which took him to Germany, France, Belgium, Ukraine and Italy. Daniel took a degree in Fine Art at Gothenburg University, Sweden, as well as an MFA. Aiming to demonstrate the limitless potential of contemporary craft, Daniel seeks to challenge the viewer’s perspective of his chosen material by playing with the strength and fragility of iron.

Interview

©Gabie Silveria

©Daniel Freyne

How do you challenge the viewer’s perspective?: Somewhat contradictory to my traditional training, within my practice, I like to break the rules. Over the last six years I have been developing techniques that allow me to manifest fissures and cracks in steel and iron.
What do you mean by breaking the rules?: I stack and layer many sheets of steel, then incorrectly fire-weld them. Fire-welding is the traditional technique of joining one or more sections of iron together. By doing it at a colder temperature and with more force, I create a surface texture that is not typically associated with metal work.
What is at the core of your skill set?: Tradition. However, I challenge the traditional value of the craft by taking the material to its limits. I deliberately overheat or underheat the metal to manifest cracks and fissures, and create forms that are not typically associated with blacksmithing.
What does well made mean to you?: To me well made is the coming together of knowledge and experience, manifested in an object that is purposeful in its intent like a gate that is aesthetically pleasing, yet extremely durable.

Daniel Freyne is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2010