Homo Faber

STAMPA IT Languages Account Follow us Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter
|
Presented by logo Homo Faber by Michelangelo Foundation
Explore Artisans Museums & Galleries Experience Itineraries About
©Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj
©Peter Rowan
©Peter Rowan
©Peter Rowan
©Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj

Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj

  • Metal sculptor
  • Russborough, Ireland
  • Master Artisan
Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj Metal sculptor
Contact
English, Danish
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+353 (0)851390222
©Richard Johnston

Finding their rhythm in the forge

  • • Michael and Gunvor share a joint vision for their work
  • • They have an intuitive knowledge of forging
  • • Part of the appeal is that it is both physically and mentally challenging

Michael Calnan and Gunvor Anhøj met while studying blacksmithing at the Hereford College of Art & Design. They work in a traditional manner with hearth, hammer and anvil. However, they work mainly bronze and corten steel, rather than iron. The process of forging involves heating the material to below melting point, and then – through impact – changing both the shape and surface texture of the material. Though heavy physical work, there is a sense of gentle creativity in the process. Gunvor describes the parallels between forging and writing poetry, explaining that both encapsulate the idea of creative construction: playing with details and finding rhythm.

Read the full interview

Works

  • ©Eamonn O'Mahony
  • ©Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj
  • ©Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj
  • ©Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj
  • ©Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj
Photo: ©Eamonn O'Mahony
Big Fish

Michael Calnan and Gunvor Anhøj love the form of fish – or ‘Vesica Piscis’ – which apparently symbolises the sacred geometrical pattern of life on Earth. It has huge potential for visual drama. Big Fish is formed from a criss-cross of chiselled slabs of corten steel creating a snowshoe effect. Michael and Gunvor aim to portray their ideas using as few components as possible, so a piece ends up looking spontaneous.

Length 27 cm
Width 31 cm
Height 130 cm

Photo: ©Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj
Invictus

This forged bronze sculpture – fitted on a black granite base – was made in response to learning about the Invictus Games, an international Paralympic-style event. Michael and Gunvor find the event, and its athletes, extremely inspiring. To illustrate the beauty of imperfections they chose to create a war horse, a sculpture of a being literally ‘in bits’, wounded and broken, but put back together – emanating power, elegance and determination.

Length 11.5 cm
Width 33 cm
Height 29 cm

Photo: ©Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj
Delicate little blossom

Through the use of irony – a trombone element and a sinister taper – Michael Calnan and Gunvor Anhøj convey their interpretation of a delicate little blossom. The sculptural piece is handcrafted from forged bronze and cast iron.

Length 10 cm
Width 12 cm
Height 55 cm

Photo: ©Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj
Ardens Sed Virens

This sculpture was commissioned by Saint Andrews College Dublin in 2019 to mark their 125-year anniversary. The brief was to make a sculpture to visually represent the motto from their school crest – Ardens Sed Virens – meaning Burning yet Flourishing. The sculpture is built from a forged bronze tree with 125 burnished leaves, on a stack of books, made out of corten steel with a bark-style effect.

Length 55 cm
Width 55 cm
Height 145 cm

Photo: ©Michael Calnan & Gunvor Anhøj
Big Hare

This handsome hare will bounce in any garden. Corten steel offers a lovely tonal quality, so it blends well in a natural environment. Also known as weathering steel – a steel specifically created to have a long-lasting rust finish, which is highly suitable for leaving outside. This hare sculpture has been sealed with a high-quality poly-vinyl resin. As the sculpture weathers into its environment, there will be some changes to the surface before it reaches its final patina.

Length 33 cm
Width 77 cm
Height 107 cm

You may also like

Download the app

Find all the Homo Faber Guide content at hand, save, like and much more!