POINT ZERO

THE ICE SERIES

At zero degrees Celsius, the unimaginable happens. Life-giving water turns into solid structures at any point below zero degrees. Plants wither, streams stop. Interesting and beautiful shapes emanate. Coming from below zero degrees, the reverse process is just as dramatic. The natural stillness turns into lively activity. An opaque material becomes transparent and is gone the next moment.

Since 2019, Mette Bentzen and Lasse Kristensen have explored the nature and aesthetics of ice in the Ice Series. They study solid ice structures and express the beauty of them in their pure and organic sculptural furniture. The transition around zero degrees is of special interest to them as the gravitational forces of the melting process create structures of great beauty.

Works in the Ice Series are made of Danish ash and maple wood as the white wood with its subtle tree rings communicate the visual nature of ice well. Now and then, the duo creates a black tinted work as natural ice also can be black. As always, Mette Bentzen and Lasse Kristensen work from a deep connection with their material. All works are only sketched briefly before the intuitive process of making the nature of ice meet wood begins in the hands of the duo.

ICE Shape no 29 and no 30. Unique 2024. ICE Shape no 29: H 42 cm W 39.5 cm D 25 cm. ICE Shape no 30: H 42.5 cm W 40 cm D 25 cm. Danish ash, white oil.