Nominees

This year’s selection committee has nominated three projects for the 2015 Biennale Award. This accolade is awarded for exceptionally well-executed and innovative ideas, expressions and craftsmanship that showcases the potential of Danish handcraftsmanship and design to the very best.

The winner of the award will be announced at the Biennale’s opening reception on 31 July 2015. The DKK 100,000 prize has been kindly donated by the Grosserer L.F. Foghts Foundation.

Prize Committee:
Lars Dybdahl, Head of Library and Research at Designmuseum Danmark
Maria Foerlev, curator and gallery owner
Gurli Elbækgaard, ceramist
Ida Wieth: Both Sides Now

In her Both Sides Now series of works, Ida Wieth combines the artistically poetical with the tangible knowledge of materials and techniques of the artisan. Together, the combination of glass, wood and ceramic elements results in a highly expressive and emotional manifestation.

“I relate to the composite and eclectic elements within things – how there is always another side, and how this can come across differently depending on preconception, perspective and sensory perception.” – Ida Wieth

Poul Harder Cohen and Mette Walsted: Coh&Co træcykel

Coh&Co stimulate our experience of the urban environment with their sustainable and local production of their city bikes. Their bicycle is an innovative spin on the classic diamond model, where the traditionally used heavyweight metal construction elements have been replaced with wood and carbon fibre. The aesthetics and the design have been executed with detailed craftsmanship. The project particularly reflects Danish tradition in the areas of function, material and design.

“Hand-built in Copenhagen using local materials, this is a sustainable injection into the throwaway culture that is prevalent in much of the cycle production industry. The aesthetic beauty of the bike compels us to take care if it.” – Coh&Co (Poul Harder Cohen and Mette Walsted)

Søren Thygesen: no title /// Winner of the Biennale Award 2015

Approximately 200 smoothly sheared red-clay bricks make up Søren Thygesen’s work. In this clash of forms, the pragmatic construction material takes on an organic expression. With the many new technologies within the building tradition, almost anything is possible. Thygesen’s project brings to light the fact that in combination with new techniques such classic materials can also take on renewed value.

“The smooth bricks are sheared in profile where they conjoin. This method translates organic form into the aesthetics of the bricks. It is a 2/5 scale model.” – Søren Thygesen.