Sofia Bankeström. HDK. Academy of Design and Crafts. Selected Graduate 2017
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Artists
Published: 22.08.2017

In a repetitive working process, Sofia Bankeström examines the wood's change and variability. With the help of just a few tools, she processes the wood's surface where new structures and patterns emerge. Lines and movements make you think of both water, music and a flowing fur.
HDK Academy of Design and Crafts, Gothenburg, Sweden
In Sofia's work, tradition and experiment unite and the result often becomes jewellery in a more generous scale. She carefully chose her materials, she is concerned and try to find the soul and quality of each one of them. The jewellery by Sofia speak not with one voice, but with many, and invites us to use all our senses to understand and to feel it.
During the studies at HDK Jewellery Art (BA and MA) Sofia has never been afraid of leaving the comfort zone, the “already known” and try more unexpected directions in the search for new expressions and concepts. Her work has been awarded and and highlighted several times, for example with a self-made silver-box camera 2014, in 2015 she was selected for Talente, and her work “Abstraction” was representing HDK during the Milan fair 2017. Through several years of study, up to her Master's degree in Jewellery, Sofia has built a strong artistic maturity and sharpness, and a security in form, material and concept. / Karin Johansson, Professor
Sofia Bankeström - Memory box
A closed box is full of possibilities, a container of memories and future. A box is the framework within which something suddenly can appear more distinctly, be seen. Ideas materialize and take shape. These are the boxes I am interested in finding, and I look for them everywhere. The boxes that may contain anything, even myself.
The first box in my project was an abstract one. I was interested in finding new ways to see and experience the tactile wooden objects I had been making for a while. This led me to build a display box where you can never see the actual object inside, only a transparent reflection or ghost version of it. The next box was a carved wooden casket that my great grandmother made 100 years ago. I received it for no particular reason but as it happened, the small wooden pieces I was making fit right into it. As we all know, good things come in threes so my goal was now clear; to find the third box.
As I work with and handle wood I leave traces in the surface. This is how the material remembers, by marks and scratches. It absorbs grease and dirt, particles from events and people. Wood is not just a material. It is also things that still do not exist. It is already everything that it could become. I associate with the wood as I affect it with my tools. After a while it affects me back.
The wood I am working with has a strong and aromatic smell. It is a typical wood used for small crafted objects such as butter knifes, because it only grows so thick. I remember this smell from early age and it fills me with a sense of security and home.
The surface of the wooden pieces I make is an imitation and interpretation of the mere structure of the wood itself. I followed these lines through a varied terrain, never letting them out of sight. I knew this would lead me to the third box which turned out to be a series of wearable, foldable boxes. Containing anyone and anything.
More works and contact:
Email: sofia.bankestrom@gmail.com
Find out more about the courses and deadlines for applications to HDK Academy of Design and Crafts.
In Sofia's work, tradition and experiment unite and the result often becomes jewellery in a more generous scale. She carefully chose her materials, she is concerned and try to find the soul and quality of each one of them. The jewellery by Sofia speak not with one voice, but with many, and invites us to use all our senses to understand and to feel it.
During the studies at HDK Jewellery Art (BA and MA) Sofia has never been afraid of leaving the comfort zone, the “already known” and try more unexpected directions in the search for new expressions and concepts. Her work has been awarded and and highlighted several times, for example with a self-made silver-box camera 2014, in 2015 she was selected for Talente, and her work “Abstraction” was representing HDK during the Milan fair 2017. Through several years of study, up to her Master's degree in Jewellery, Sofia has built a strong artistic maturity and sharpness, and a security in form, material and concept. / Karin Johansson, Professor
Sofia Bankeström - Memory box
A closed box is full of possibilities, a container of memories and future. A box is the framework within which something suddenly can appear more distinctly, be seen. Ideas materialize and take shape. These are the boxes I am interested in finding, and I look for them everywhere. The boxes that may contain anything, even myself.
The first box in my project was an abstract one. I was interested in finding new ways to see and experience the tactile wooden objects I had been making for a while. This led me to build a display box where you can never see the actual object inside, only a transparent reflection or ghost version of it. The next box was a carved wooden casket that my great grandmother made 100 years ago. I received it for no particular reason but as it happened, the small wooden pieces I was making fit right into it. As we all know, good things come in threes so my goal was now clear; to find the third box.
As I work with and handle wood I leave traces in the surface. This is how the material remembers, by marks and scratches. It absorbs grease and dirt, particles from events and people. Wood is not just a material. It is also things that still do not exist. It is already everything that it could become. I associate with the wood as I affect it with my tools. After a while it affects me back.
The wood I am working with has a strong and aromatic smell. It is a typical wood used for small crafted objects such as butter knifes, because it only grows so thick. I remember this smell from early age and it fills me with a sense of security and home.
The surface of the wooden pieces I make is an imitation and interpretation of the mere structure of the wood itself. I followed these lines through a varied terrain, never letting them out of sight. I knew this would lead me to the third box which turned out to be a series of wearable, foldable boxes. Containing anyone and anything.
More works and contact:
Email: sofia.bankestrom@gmail.com
Find out more about the courses and deadlines for applications to HDK Academy of Design and Crafts.
Earrings: Untitled, 2017
Juniper wood, 14k gold.
7 x 4 cm
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Necklace: Untitled, 2017
Wood, Textile, Brass
35 x 20 cm
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Necklace: Untitled, 2017
Juniper wood.
18 x 40 cm
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Object: Untitled, 2017
Juniper wood.
50 x 30 cm
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Object: Untitled, 2017
Plywood, digital printed cotton
Box
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Necklace: Untitled, 2017
Juniper wood, elastic cord, brass.
35 x 20 cm
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Necklace: Untitled, 2017
Birch wood, elastic cord, brass.
18 x 50 cm
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
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