ANE FREED-KERNIS

Ane Freed-Kernis, a Danish stone artisan based in Manchester, has always had a deep affinity for the material, tracing back to her childhood where she would collect them. Even now, strings of stones from her youth adorn her home, serving as tangible reminders of her enduring connection to the earth's ancient material. In the midst of life's chaos, Ane finds solace in the serene stillness of stone, viewing it as a counterbalance to the frenetic pace of the modern world.

Her journey into stone carving was indirectly sparked by her father, who took up the craft upon retiring. Despite her longstanding interest, she had never found the opportunity to pursue it until her father's passing in 2005. This loss served as a catalyst for Ane to explore her own creative potential in stone carving, and she discovered immense joy in the process of shaping the raw material into forms of beauty.

Ane's approach to carving is marked by simplicity and clarity, as she works directly with blocks of stone, focusing on clean lines and smooth finishes. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, she often depicts living beings in a slightly abstract style, aiming to capture their essence and energy while honoring the inherent character of the stone, imperfections and all.

While Ane works with a variety of stone types, she holds a particular fondness for ancaster limestone. This preference stems from the stone's unique qualities, such as embedded shells, layers, and other intriguing surprises that reveal themselves as she meticulously smooths the surface. Through her artistry, Ane continues to breathe life into the ancient medium of stone, infusing it with her own reverence for the natural world.

Photo credit: Christopher Thomond / The Guardian. Website by Studio Kissme.