Functional clay and woody structures take over Peach Corner for 3daysofdesign 2025

Grounding itself in the beauty of raw materials and human craft, Peach Corner's exhibitions at 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen Denmark, invite us to reconsider the essence of clay and wood as materials. These two distinct showcases, Functional Clay, on view from June 18 – 20, 2025 and Hard Edges, Soft Materials on view from May 22 – June 28, 2025, offer a tactile journey, from the poetic functionality of ceramic objects to the evocative dialogues forged between wood and clay. At the heart of these exhibitions lies an unwavering respect for materiality and the craftsmanship that brings it to life.

Functional Clay

This group show embraces the notion that art can inhabit the mundane, transforming practical ceramics into objects of wonder. Functional Clay brings together 15 makers and designers, each weaving their narratives into the pliability of clay. Amalie Vöge Jensen's GRIP ceramics, inspired by the act of climbing, stand as a testament to the physicality and metaphorical reach inherent in her practice. Her forms, simultaneously sculptural and functional, remind us that everyday objects can hold deeper meanings.

The joy of process shines through in Anne Tophøj's Set for Buttering, a playful exploration of production methods. Butter dishes and toast racks emerge with rich textures and unique imprints, carrying the marks of a maker revelling in the possibilities of clay. These pieces, though practical, carry a spirit of experimentation that challenges the idea of uniformity. They invite us to see the richness of individuality within the everyday.

Birgit Marie Østerby reclaims discarded porcelain in Replated, using glazes sourced from industrial by-products and natural materials. Her transformations breathe new life into forgotten objects, elevating their value and significance. This work is not only an ode to renewal but also a meditation on sustainability, bridging the practical with the philosophical.

Cecilie Manz's Champagne explores duality through porcelain. Thin, repeatable forms sit alongside sand-cast pieces, revealing the tension between precision and spontaneity. The controlled meets the chaotic and the resulting forms embody technical mastery and the joy of unpredictability.

Claydies inject a whimsical energy into the exhibition with Whistleblowing Earthshaking Trumpeting! These drinking vessels double as musical instruments, with their forms echoing the sounds they produce. Each piece celebrates the playful intersection of sound, function and clay, reminding us that utility and delight need not be separate.

Depping & Jørgensen, typically working with wood and steel, embrace clay’s malleability with their Clay Table. The ceramic tabletop sits on a solid wood base, its texture and rawness shining through. The table design embodies an elemental dialogue between materials, showcasing clay in its most tactile, functional form.

Hilda Piazzolla turns to the hidden beauty of structural patterns in Infill Works. By exposing the intricate grids typically concealed within 3D-printed ceramics, she transforms functional support structures into aesthetic focal points. Her work balances precision with clay's inherent softness, creating ceramic designs that are both visually striking and conceptually rich.

Jeppe Søndergaard Hansen delves into nostalgia with Archaeology of Tomorrow: ASHTRAY. By embedding cigarette butts into porcelain and glazing the surface with gold-like luster, he elevates the ashtray; a relic of a bygone habit, into a poignant commentary on memory and decay. The work bridges the gap between the transient and the eternal.

Michael Geertsen's Black Object #1–4 pulsate with energy, their dynamic forms blending decorative and sculptural elements. Cylinders, funnels and cones push and pull against the closed bodies, hinting at an interior presence that is felt but unseen. These pieces invite viewers to imagine the unseen forces shaping these objects.

Ole Jensen offers a tactile experience in Simple Serving, with hand-moulded jugs, dishes and cups. Each piece speaks to functionality, yet its organic forms convey an intimacy that makes the ordinary feel extraordinary. His contemporary designs, simple yet profound, reflect a deep connection to the material and its possibilities.

Petra Dalström draws inspiration from nature in Carriers, crafting kinetic sculptures that mimic seed dispersal. Her pieces, including the two-metre-wide Pappus, combine wood veneer and stoneware to create forms that change over time, mirroring the processes of growth and decay found in the natural world. Whilst Zuzanna Skurka engages the imagination of the young and curious with her Mixed Bricks Play Set, a collection of miniaturised bricks made from diverse materials. The pieces invite play and experimentation, encouraging children to push boundaries and embrace the joy of building and failing in a safe and creative environment.

The historic Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Studio becomes a canvas for these creations. Its storied walls bear witness to the shifting boundaries of functional and fine art, as the exhibition's makers blur lines and break conventions. The poetic comes alive in these works, as each piece challenges our understanding of clay and its potential.

Hard Edges, Soft Materials

If Functional Clay grounds us in the here and now, Hard Edges, Soft Materials propels us into a dialogue about material and form. This exhibition brings together Japanese designer Sho Ota and ceramic artist Martin Bodilsen Kaldahl, two visionaries whose practices intersect in their reverence for wood and clay. At first glance, their work speaks from opposing corners; Ota's sharp, engineered wooden sculptures juxtaposed with Kaldahl's organic, almost primordial ceramic forms. Yet, they converge in their exploration of material behaviour and their ability to challenge perceptions.

Ota's sculptural objects trace the journey of wood from raw, natural growth to the precise touch of human craftsmanship. His meticulous layering and carving techniques lay bare the duality of the material. In his hands, wood retains its innate character while embracing an artificial transformation. The resulting furniture designs evoke a harmony between what is wild and what is controlled, a balance that resonates with the exhibition's theme.

Kaldahl's approach to clay is no less engaging. His pieces seem to emerge from the material itself, as if clay's natural movement has been allowed to dictate form. Gravity, softness and viscosity play starring roles in his process, leaving imprints that are both deliberate and spontaneous. These sculptures carry the weight of transformation from pliable mass to hardened permanence while maintaining the material's fragile essence.

Across both exhibitions, Peach Corner demonstrates its commitment to expanding the possibilities of clay and wood. This artist-run space has always been more than an exhibition venue; it is a dynamic forum for exploring what it means to create, to transform and to imbue objects with meaning. Through these showcases, it offers a vision of craftsmanship that celebrates the intersection of tradition and innovation, grounding us in the timeless allure of raw materials while propelling us into new areas of possibility.

'Functional Clay' is on view from June 18 – 20, 2025, and 'Hard Edges, Soft Materials' is on view from May 22 – June 28, 2025, at Peach Corner in Frederiksholms Kanal 28B, 1220 Copenhagen, Denmark.