
WORDS Luke Pedersen PHOTO Supplied
In our new series called VISI Voices, cofounder and director of acclaimed furniture brand Pedersen + Lennard Luke Pedersen casts his mind back to a seminal moment in his journey as a designer.
Creating with your hands should be a simple, intuitive process, but I think we’ve drifted from this essential skill – and my journey into the design profession serves as a testament to this. It all began with a deep- seated desire to weld metal. From my earliest memories, I’ve been captivated by the seemingly magical force that allows two pieces of metal to join seamlessly, becoming stronger together as if they were always one.
Luckily for me, I had a kind mentor who lived “just down the road” – a common scenario in my hometown of Gqeberha. But that’s a digression for another time. This kind man eventually became my father-in-law, or simply “dad” (again, a story for another column). When I was 12, he introduced me to the basics of welding in his garage. There, amid the smell of metal and the crackling of welding sparks, I witnessed him create all sorts of fascinating objects, from ostrich egg incubators to printing presses and off-road trailers. (The digressions seem to flow naturally in this narrative; I’m seeing a pattern.)
One day, I decided to craft a barstool for myself. Why a barstool? Well, my rationale, as a 40-something-year-old reflecting on what might have been going through my mind, was a mix of curiosity and rebellion. I pondered why society allowed me to wield a potentially dangerous welding machine but not to sit at a bar and enjoy a cold beverage. Thus, the barstool became more than a piece of furniture; it became a symbol.
I envisioned this barstool to defy the laws of structural integrity, showcasing the magic of my welding. When I shared my design idea with my mentor, his response was overwhelmingly sceptical. Would my design work? Would it even survive a single night at a bar? In my defence, remember that I was 12 – an age at which attempting the impossible and believing one knows all there is to know is standard procedure.
Undeterred, I embarked on my mission. I meticulously cut various lengths of steel at precise angles and began to tack them together. Welding, as I soon learnt, is both an art and a science. It requires a steady hand, keen eyes behind safety goggles, and a light touch akin to sewing – stitching two pieces together as the metals heat and fuse. Admittedly, my welding skills back then were far from refined; they were what industry insiders may politely refer to as “bird shit”. However, against all odds, my barstool held together. It emerged from my youthful vision as a sturdy yet peculiar piece, devoid of finesse or proportion, but undeniably resilient.
This experience taught me a valuable lesson: crafting by hand is only daunting if we allow doubts and filters to cloud our vision. Instead, we should channel our inner pre-teen spirit – fearless, curious and unyielding.
Who knows where your handmade journey might lead? Perhaps it’s towards a thriving furniture design business – or, at the very least, a cool story to share over drinks at the bar. | pedersenlennard.co.za
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