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© Janis Straupe
© O. Jansons
© O. Jansons
© All rights reserved

Janis Straupe

Janis Straupe Woodworker
Contact
Latvian, English, Russian
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+371 29416093
© O. Jansons

Inventing in wood

  • • Janis opened his own workshop after 15 years of practice
  • • He likes to play with optical illusions and gravitational force
  • • He has participated in 50 art exhibitions since 1983

Janis Straupe has been working with wood for more than 35 years. Taking inspiration from nature and geometry, he makes sculptural objects, design pieces, decorative objects and fully functional pieces of custom-made furniture. One of his most famous creations is the Beetle cabinet, a wooden cabinet in shape of giant beetle. Janis used to own a small furniture workshop employing up to eight people; now, he considers them simply colleagues and friends who work together to make unique design pieces in wood. Janis likes to think of himself as an inventor who expresses himself through wood. His custom-made pieces of furniture are as much sculptures as functional items.

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Publicity photo
  • © Publicity photo
  • © Publicity photo
  • © Publicity photo
  • © Publicity photo
Photo: © Publicity photo
Beetle

The Beetle cabinet is a functional sculpture. It was handcrafted in alder wood, carved, stained and oiled. The inside contains 11 drawers, a stationery and paperwork section, wine racks and two secret modules. The cabinet has a highly individual design that does not belong to the style of any particular era.

Width 1.4 cm
Depth 0.8 cm
Height 2.2 cm

Photo: © Publicity photo
Perspicere

The Perspicere chest of drawers creates a misleading sense of perspective and dimension as Janis’s aim was to play with the perception of gravity and balance. It was handcrafted in white maple veneer and comes with 11 drawers.

Width 1.3 cm
Depth 65 cm
Height 1.3 cm

Photo: © Publicity photo
Ciba

The Ciba bowl was handcrafted from santos rosewood. Its two arched whirls create a sense of motion, turning it into a dynamic sculpture.

Width 40 cm
Depth 30 cm
Height 7 cm

Photo: © Publicity photo
Sphera

The Sphera chest of drawers is made up of four convex drawer blocks, creating an optical wide-angle illusion. It was handcrafted in oak, stained and oiled.

Width 230 cm
Depth 55 cm
Height 85 cm

Photo: © Publicity photo
Curved table

This table was handcrafted from lime wood. Its curved shape was designed to imply a recent celebration.

Width 230 cm
Depth 55 cm
Height 85 cm

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