Jonathän Jouan Studios

I grew up in the idyllic French Breton countryside, inspired by local folklore and global tales, especially Japanese narratives. My passion led me to study Art History, but I found it incomplete. Seeking more, I moved to Montreal and enrolled in the School of Art Cabinetmaking (EEAM), where I discovered a love for transforming materials, particularly wood.In 2017, I founded Jonathän Jouan Studios, creating meticulously designed furniture and objects with various cabinetmaking techniques. Self-learning, such as straw marquetry, expanded my skills. After graduating in 2020, I moved to Copenhagen to refine my techniques and artistic style, symbolizing my commitment to artistic evolution while still focusing on mythology and folklore for my conceptual pieces.General approach about my work :As an artisan specializing in art furniture and the intricate technique of straw marquetry, I infuse vitality into my creations, accentuating the meticulous craftsmanship and finesse inherent in both straw marquetry and woodwork. Within my artistic endeavors focused on crafting ornamental pieces and furniture, I prioritize not only the visual appeal but also the experiential aspect for the user. My pieces are designed not solely for functionality and convenience but also to inspire moments of spiritual contemplation and engagement during interaction.Deeply influenced by Eastern philosophies, particularly the Japanese ethos, where ordinary acts of daily life are transformed into sacred rituals akin to the tea ceremony, I am presently immersed in exploring the ethereal domain. This journey finds expression through my reinterpretation of folklore, nostalgic recollections, and timeless narratives shared around hearths. My artistic pursuit transcends the physical realm, aspiring to evoke intangible and spiritual encounters.My current ornamental series delves into the enigmatic territory of the unseen future. Inspired by the pioneering research of Edward A.D. Mitchell, a soil specialist exploring microorganisms and amoebas, I have woven a narrative that unveils a speculative tale of a voyager journeying through an exhibition of macroorganisms, descendants of today’s amoebas. Set in an ambiguous time and place, this tale reflects the culmination of societal choices. The works I have crafted represent these organisms, ensnared by unique means, displayed for all to observe and contemplate.

Designs

Dotte Lamp no. 1

Each lamp in the Dotte collection is unique. Their authenticity is in the type of wood we use, the size, and the Kumiko pattern.

Dotte Lamp no. 1 is made out of maple and lime wood. The Kumiko pattern is Asa-No-Ha and Tsuno Asa-No-Ha size Ø700mm

Dotte Lamp no. 2

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Gallery

Works

TenGü - mural desk - Yokaï collection

Ode to the legendary counterpart creature of Japanese folklore, this composition serves as a communication from a bygone era adapted to our contemporary reality, reflecting our ever-evolving lifestyles and thoughts, much like the enduring myths that envelop us. With a commitment to precision, I aimed to center my efforts on the distinctive attributes of the Tengu: the fan, the martial arts concept, and the resulting discipline ingrained in ancestral techniques passed down through generations. In its formal manifestation, TenGü emerges as a utilitarian and polymorphic creation. Crafted with the intention of minimizing its spatial footprint in our interiors, TenGü ideally finds its place next to expansive windows. When in use, its design facilitates an emotional interaction with the external environment, akin to a Tengu observing from a mountain summit. The user of TenGü assumes the role of the legendary creature honing skills while maintaining vigilant awareness of the surroundings.Constructed with a robust white oak frame adorned with brass and gold leaf, TenGü integrates traditional cabinet-making techniques involving bending and assembly. The fan-shaped top features a feather pattern in straw marquetry, reminiscent of wings, and incorporates the Tengu feather fan.The transformation of this furniture piece is initiated by the user, who rotates the fan from a vertical to a horizontal position through a rotating mechanism. A screw system secures the tray during this transformative moment, echoing a ritualistic gesture akin to martial artists preparing for training. At the conclusion of the "training," the tray gracefully returns to its original position, marking the conclusion of the practice.

KitSü - screen desk- Yokaï collection

KitSü is a piece of art furniture that allows you to reconnect with yourself, but also with others. I wanted to create a piece of furniture that is both a separator and a unifier, capable of bringing different people together in the same space. In other words: a space within a space.Inspired by the Kitsune, a fox spirit with polymorphism, and many other powers, I wanted to create an object in the image of an ancestral love story between a human and a spirit:“Ono, an inhabitant of Mino (says an ancient Japanese legend of A.D. 545), spent the seasons longing for his ideal of female beauty. He met her one evening on a vast moor and married her. Simultaneously with the birth of their son, Ono's dog was delivered of a pup which as it grew up became more and more hostile to the lady of the moors. She begged her husband to kill it, but he refused. At last one day the dog attacked her so furiously that she lost courage, resumed vulpine shape, leaped over a fence and fled. "You may be a fox," Ono called after her, "but you are the mother of my son and I will always love you. Come back when you please; you will always be welcome."So every evening she stole back and slept in his arms.”The KitSü desk is my interpretation of this story.Shaped like an egg, it features a fan-shaped desk adorned with brass leaves, straw inlay and white oak to highlight the workspace. A solid white oak structure has a hexagonal pillar in the center on which are fixed 3 curved wooden panels. Among these 3 sides, one is composed of circular mirrors backed with white oak and inlaid with blue and black straw in reference to the Kitsune fire. It has the particularity of being able to be fixed on different sides of the central pillar with screws, to change the shape of the object. The other two fixed sides, also serving as a foot of the desk, are simply empty: They make the link between the office space and the rest of the composition.The overall shape of the object is that of a cocoon, while leaving it open to the world around it. Its possibilities of arrangement are multiple and thus leave room for the creativity of each.

Okäke - lantern - Yokaï collection

Obäke is a lamp inspired by the chochin obake, a ghostly paper lantern depicted in Japanese ukiyo-e paintings and theatrical plays. This haunted lantern frightens people by flapping its tongue, drawing inspiration from the traditional stone lanterns found in Japanese gardens.I aimed to create a lamp that feels almost alive, with open ribs made of bent wood that subtly move with changes in humidity. This movement symbolizes the lamp's evolution and transformation, embodying a new being while remaining fundamentally the same.

Carpentry Craft / Kbh
Moltkes Palæ
Dronningens Tværgade 2
1302 Copenhagen

Opening hours:
June 15 10.00-18.00
June 16 10.00-17.00
June 17 10.00-17.00