A new series of candlesticks & plates by Swedish ceramic artist Kina Björklund capture nature with joy and whimsy.

Historical references abound in the work of Kina Björklund: decoration found in 18th century ceramics, old lace, antique brooches and old ironmongery all lend inspiration (her sister is an antique dealer). Kina uses these these objects as “tools" to stamp her plates and bowls. These objects provide the intricate patterns of her sculptures, and allow her pieces to reference history in a tangible way.

“ While working, I don’t overthink. I follow my senses, my intuition and make space for chance, which leads me forward.

Since I was little, I have loved antique shops, always looking for something that evokes my interest, something different that makes me happy. ”

- Kina Björklund

The plates and candlesticks in this collection characteristically play at the boundary between sculpture and function. Questioning binaries and finding a place “in-between” is a continuing theme for her practice. For her solo show at Flow in 2021, Kina explained her work as:

“Between table-top and art, castle and hut, the natural and the man-made, the beautiful and the ugly, the fragile and the coarse ... just in-between.”

The pieces are made using terracotta clay and white transparent glazes, which to her “look like icing on a cake.” Although her work usually starts on the wheel, she then models, adapts and adds pattern to blend hand-building techniques with throwing. The result are pieces that speak to her sense of freedom and play, evoking a sense of wonder in the world around us.