Scan Magazine | Artist of the Month | Norway
As both a ceramist and a sculptor, Kjell Johannessen is known for his signature candlesticks.
Artist of the Month, Norway
Art with a physical presence:
the work of a sculptor Walking into a room that features a sculpture or object crafted by the Norwegian artist Kjell Johannessen allows people to experience the strength that has gone into the making of it. From the sheer force of beating the clay, to the three-dimensional aspect of the piece – it is impossible to ignore the presence of his work. By Line Elise Svanevik | Photos: Courtesy of the artist
As both a sculptor and a ceramist, Johannessen aims to create objects that make people stop and take notice, due to the sheer power exerted from each object, which makes it impossible to ignore or shy away from. “I’ve had many people tell me that they had to rearrange their flat or house after purchasing one of my 108 | Issue 103 | August 2017
sculptures,” says Johannessen. “And that’s always incredibly nice to hear.” Those familiar with Johannessen’s work can spot one of his pieces from a mile off. “People often come to me and say ‘I don’t need to see the signature on your work – I can see it’s yours straight away’. That’s
something I’ve been hearing for many years now,” he adds. He believes that each sculpture contains volume that helps activate a room. “The sculptures are physical beings – that’s what excites me the most. There is a great deal of power in a sculpture because of its three-dimensional nature.”
Classical antiquity Drawing inspiration from classical antiquity, Johannessen has contributed to the decoration of the offices of large corporations and organisations, includ-