Inspiration with Johanne Birkeland of Jossolini
people • makers
Johanne is an Oslo based potter that uses traditional pottery techniques to make ceramic lamp bases.
WEBSITE: jossolini.no INSTAGRAM: @jossolini
Words: designeers
july 2024
designeers
How would you describe your style?
johanne birkeland
I make large pieces that challenge the strength of the material and the balance of the form. I decorate my pieces with “skins” and explore how different patterns can affect how one experiences the shape.
designeers
The most important object you have designed so far:
johanne birkeland
A tiny lumpy lamp with black dots I made just after I graduated. It was featured in Norway’s most important interior magazine. It wasn’t my best piece, but I still look at pictures of it for inspiration. Sometimes I feel that my creativity was purer when I was younger and less experienced. My only focus was to explore the material and have fun with it.
designeers
Sources of creative desire:
johanne birkeland
The clay itself. Clay is a soft and organic material, and its natural movement can create amazing shapes. I have come up with some of my best designs by letting the clay do as it wants, and to control its movement only slightly. I strive to find the perfect meeting point between clay as a dependent material and me as a craftsman.
designeers
What do you do when you're not in the studio?
johanne birkeland
I’m always at the studio. You don’t have hobbies when you do what I do!
“I have come up with some of my best designs by letting the clay do as it wants, and to control its movement only slightly.”
johanne birkeland
designeers
Penthouse or townhouse:
johanne birkeland
Penthouse. I am more of a townhouse girl, but after living as a poor artist for so long, I have this secret dream of living in an enormous and posh penthouse flat, and to drink San Pellegrino from a wine glass every morning.
designeers
On your coffee table right now:
johanne birkeland
I consume books, and my tiny apartment is overflowing with them. When I travel, I spend my whole budget on books from the museum shops. But my favorite right now is a beautiful
book about Pierre Bonnard. He is one of my favorite artists, and a great inspiration for colors.
designeers
Favourite hotel in the world?
johanne birkeland
When I was a student I visited this crazy hotel in California, Madonna Inn. I like it when a place gives you an unexpected experience rather than just aesthetic pleasure. I remember we slept in a blue, circular room in an enormous roundly shaped bed. I will never forget that room.
designeers
Design hero:
johanne birkeland
I think, within ceramic arts and design, that Lucie Rie still holds the throne, but among the living, I really admire the works of Leah Kaplan.
