1. Where were you born and where are you from ?

I was born in Denmark north of Copenhagen.

2. What is your first memory connected to the art world ?

I think it was a thumb by César. North of Copenhagen is the Louisiana Museum and they have great pieces by artists like César, Dubuffet, Giacometti, Calder in their sculpture park. This made an impression on me when I was a young.

3. Have you always worked in the art/design field ?

Yes, 1990 I finished my design education. I am also educated a psychotherapist but design is my profession. I have been designing everything from eyewear, hi-fi, Swiss mechanical watches, furniture and phones.

4. What led you to the design creation ?

I have a quite active brain and I like creating – it is my escape room. It is like therapy for me. My brain is in a constant dialog with my body. The brain keeps coming up with new ideas and my body is feeling which ideas are working and which are not.

5. How would you describe your creative process and it influences ?

I try to be as open as possible. I use every method I know, sketching, 3D drawing, 3D printing, models, visualization, talking to craftsmen… It can be story in my head, a feeling I get, a material I see or experience, something I hear that makes me wonder. Ideas often begin and materialize outside my studio.

6. Could you describe a typical day of your work ?

Yes, I start working when I open my eyes and try to stop when I close them. 

7. Why did you choose the specific materials you work with ?

I don’t know. It can be the texture, the reflection, the weight, the sound, the softness, the history, the environmental impact. The design and the material needs to communicate with each other.

8. What are the technical particularities of your creations ?

I like to use my voice as a human being to tell a 3-dimensional short story, that I feel is important and maybe it will give meaning to someone else. I mostly work with geometric shapes because it makes me calm to look at them.

9. What advices could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works ?

Enjoy the journey.

10. If your works had to belong to a design movement, in which one would you define it ?

I don’t think I belong in a movement – I like doing what I am passionate about. Maybe there’s a movement for this?

11. What designers and artists have influenced you ?

I think there are so many great designers. Like hundreds and hundreds both living and not living. I have a lot of respect for many designers. Especially the once that go their own way.

12. What contemporary designers do you appreciate ?

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13. What contemporary artists (in any kind of art) have you been inspired by ?

Music is very important to me. At the moment I listen to electronic music, like James Blake and Hania Rani. But next week it might be jazz or country as long as the quality is good and the artist has a personality.

14. If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be ?

I make objects that have an emotional value to me and hopefully to the viewer/owner.

15. Is there anything you would like to add ?

Yes, STUDIO YOLK is a family-based art and design studio. My wife Pernille Iben Linde is an artist, my oldest daughter Amanda Johanne is a fashion designer, my son Carl Otto is an artist and my youngest daughter is studying to become an artist in Bergen Norway and I feel so privileged to work and share my life with my family.