THINGSTEAD
Thingstead was created over the course of 2019 by 310 woodturners from all over Denmark, working under the artistic direction of designer and furniture artisan Rasmus Bækkel Fex, who defined the overall project concept and design.
In 2019, Trapholt invited woodturners from all of Denmark to create a work in collaboration with Rasmus Bækkel Fex, who had a vision for a huge installation. He set a specific task: the installation needed 1,200 sticks of ash to be shaped by woodturners, each measuring 50x4x4 cm. The participating woodturners were invited to turn the centre part of their sticks, leaving the last four cm at either end to Rasmus Bækkel Fex.
In 2019, Trapholt hosted several joint workshop sessions and also visited workshops and fairs where woodturners meet and share their experiences. Meeting points were set up all over the country for woodturners to pick up and hand in their sticks for the project. Each stick reflects the individual participant’s skill, personality and history, making it a unique piece of a larger context.
Woodturners usually work individually, and every product is unique; partly due to the variations in the wood itself, and partly because of the woodturning process. By entering into this project, each artisan was given the opportunity to display their skill within a challenging framework set by an artist – while also collaborating with others.
The Thingstead installation brings together the very best work of 310 skilled woodturners. It accumulates thousands of hours of experience and careful effort. The contributors comprise the young and the old, women and men, professionals and amateurs from the local region and from the rest of the country.
1,200 wooden sticks were handed out to woodturners, and 942 turned sticks were returned. The sticks received were then converted into an installation comprising twelve tall chairs. Together, the great efforts of many people have produced a work that no-one could have created alone.
Thingstead was created with funding from the Region of Southern Denmark.
