Yuki Ferdinandsen is a metalsmith artist living and working in Denmark, whose refined, minimalist works embody the aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship of her native Japan as distilled through a Danish lens. Working primarily in silver, she draws inspiration from nature, in particular the spirals of the Fibonacci sequence. Ferdinandsen’s work demonstrates a profound relationship to her material; the organic forms are articulated with rhythmic patterns created using the arare technique by which raised dots emerge through multiple strikes of a chasing hammer. Approximately twenty taps are required to produce each bead-like protrusion, and the meditative and repetitive nature of the process imbues her works with an ethereal quality.
A subtle and nuanced play of light and shadow also emerges on the textured surfaces of the vessels, complemented by a semi-matte, whitened, silvery finish achieved through an acid solution bath. Ferdinandsen describes her process in this way: “Every sound in the rhythm of my ‘hammer’s dance’ I feel in the whole of my body and enjoy within my soul. This is work that never suffers from fatigue.”
Ferdinandsen studied at the Saga Junior College of Art and the Tsuibu Metal Art School, both in Kyoto, Japan. She has exhibited throughout Japan, Scandinavia, and Europe, and her work has been placed in significant private and public collections including the Danish Design Museum, in Copenhagen and the National Museum in Stockholm. She was the recipient of the 2015 Schoonhoven Silver Award and has been recognized with numerous other awards and grants over the course of the past two decades.
EDUCATION
1999/89
The Institute for Precious Metals, Copenhagen, Denmark
1998
Studies in Japan
1997/82
Tsuibu Metal Art School, Kyoto, Japan
1979
Kyoto Saga University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017
My Hammer’s Dance, Galleri Montan, Copenhagen, Denmark
2012
Arare, LOD Metallformgivning, Stockholm, Sweden
Koldinghus Museum, Kolding, Denmark
2011
Arare, Galleri Montan, Copenhagen, Denmark
2007
Gallery Seikado, Kyoto, Japan
The Japanese Embassy’s Cultural Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
2003
The Japanese Embassy’s Cultural Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
1999
The Booktrader, Copenhagen, Denmark
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Schmuck und Gerät (Jewelry and Equipment), Galerie Handwerk, Handwerkskammer für München und Oberbayern, Munich, Germany
2022
Möten: Jubileumsutställning (Meetings: Anniversary Exhibition), Galleri Sebastian Schildt, Stockholm, Sweden
2021
Japansk Design Festival, Kosmopol, Copenhagen, Denmark
Matter at Hand: Ten Artists in Denmark, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
Matter at Hand: Ten Artists in Denmark, Hostler Burrows LA, Los Angeles, CA
Pan Amsterdam, RAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2020
Japansk Design Festival, Seidokan Japan Center, Cophenhagen, Denmark
Late Summer Exhibition, Galleri Montan, Copenhagen, Denmark
Open Up, HammarClub, Schoonhoven, The Netherlands
2019
Worthy of a Queen, Copenhagen Goldsmiths’ Guild, Galleri Montan, Copenhagen, Denmark
Renewal, HammarClub, Dundee, Scotland
2018–19
Different but Same, Koldinghus Museum, Kolding, Denmark
2018
Afterparty, Institute of Precious Metals, Rundetaarn/The Round Tower, Copenhagen, Denmark
Japan Return, Danish Arts Foundation at Gallery A. Petersen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Dots, Circles, and Sphere, Galerie Handwerk, Handwerkskammer für München und Oberbayern, Munich, Germany
Modern Masters, Handwerk & Design, Munich, Germany
Pouring Pots, Bayerischer Kunstgewerbeverein, Munich, Germany
HammarClub, Hanau, Germany
TEFAF Maastricht with Gallery Adrian Sassoon, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2017
MINDCRAFT17, Milan Design Week, Danish Arts Foundation, Milan, Italy
Forged, Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany
HammarClub, Pforzheim, Germany
NOMAD Monaco with Gallery FUMI, Monaco
Pavilion of Art and Design London with Gallery FUMI, London, UK
TEFAF Maastricht, Gallery Adrian Sassoon, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2016
MINDCRAFT16, Milan Design Week, Danish Arts Foundation, Milan, Italy
18. Silbertriennale International, Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus, Hanau, Germany
Danish Silversmiths 40-Year Anniversary Exhibition, Denmark
Gallery FUMI, Porto Cervo, Italy
Masterpiece London with Gallery Adrian Sassoon, London, UK
PAD London with Gallery Adrian Sassoon, London, UK
TEFAF Maastricht with Gallery Adrian Sassoon, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2015
Same but Not the Same, Galleri Sebastian Schildt, Stockholm, Sweden
Collect with Galleri Sebastian Schildt+, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2014
Hammered, Koldinghus Museum, Kolding, Denmark
HammarClub, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
2013
Festival of Silver, The Goldsmiths’ Centre, London, UK
Highlights, Galleri Montan, Copenhagen, Denmark
Midsummer Night, HammarClub, Museum of Decorative Arts,Trondheim, Norway
17. Silbertriennale International, Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus, Hanau, Germany
2012
Craft Embracing the World, Korean Craft Museum, Cheongju, South Korea
Water and Bread, Galleri Montan, Copenhagen, Denmark
2011
Dedikeret Sølv (Dedicated Silver), Museum at Koldinghus, Kolding, Denmark
Lækkerier (Delicacies), Grønbechs Gård, Bornholm, Denmark
2010
Objects of Light, HammarClub, Danish Design Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
Silver, Galleri Montan, Copenhagen, Denmark
2009
Bordets Ægte Glæder (The True Joys of the Table), Museum at Koldinghus, Kolding, Denmark
Kander (Pitchers), Galleri Montan, Copenhagen, Denmark
Take Away, Galleri Montan, Copenhagen, Denmark
Collect with Galleri Montan, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2008
Skattejagt (Treasure Hunt), Danish Design Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
2007
Func Art, Gallery Drud & Køppe, Copenhagen, Denmark
Kunsthåndværkerprisen af 1879 (Art and Craft Prize of 1879)
2005
Japan/Denmark, Art and Craft, Dronninglund, Denmark
Kunsthåndværkerprisen at 1879 (Art and Craft Prize of 1879), Danish Design Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
2004
Fannys Venner (Fanny’s Friends), Gallery Officinet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Fannys Venner (Fanny’s Friends), Norway
Gallery Creer, Kyoto, Japan
2003
Art-Union “14 / 8,” Danish Design Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
Gallery Creer, Kyoto, Japan
2002
GUG Group, Aalborg, Denmark
Gallery Raft, Tokyo, Japan
2001
Gallery Creer, Kyoto, Japan
The Second Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Cheongju, South Korea
2000
Afgangsudstilling fra Institut for Ædelmetal (Graduate Exhibition from the Institute for Precious Metals), The Institute for Precious Metals, Copenhagen, Denmark
Gallery Creer, Kyoto, Japan
Gallery Yamamoto, Kyoto, Japan
1999
Charlottenborgs Forårsudstilling (Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition), The Charlottenborg Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
Gallery Paruko, Osaka, Japan
1997
Gallery Tobei, Kyoto, Japan
1996
Gallery Creer, Kyoto, Japan
Gallery Tobei, Kyoto, Japan
COLLECTIONS
Danish Design Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark
Nordenfjeldske Museum of Decorative Arts,Trondheim, Norway
The Danish Arts Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
The National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden
The Silver Museum at Koldinghus, Kolding, Denmark
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
AWARDS
2019
Second Prize, Hammarclub, Dundee, Scotland
Statens Kunstfond (Danish Arts Foundation) Award for “Different but Same,” Koldinghus, Kolding, Denmark
The Ole Haslund Artist Grant
2015
Winner of the Schoonhoven Silver Award
2014
Third Prize, HammarClub, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
2013
First Prize, Best of the Year, HammarClub, Trondheim, Norway
2012
Silversmith of the Year, Karl Gustav Hansen Prize
2010
First Prize, Best of the Year, HammerClub, Copenhagen
2005
Bronze Medal, Kunsthåndværkerprisen af 1879 (Art and Craft Prize of 1879)
2001
Silver Medal, The Second Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Cheongju, South Korea
