CARL HANSEN & SON “WOODLINES” RUG COLLECTION
After extensively studying the characteristics of wood, Naja Utzon Popov has designed a unique rug collection exclusively for Carl Hansen & Son. With nature as its focal point, the WOODLINES Collection reflects and symbolizes the meeting point of the designer and the furniture manufacturer’s expression, approach and history.
Danish interdisciplinary artist Naja Utzon Popov’s exclusive new rug collection for Carl Hansen & Son is the result of a shared passion for excellent craftsmanship, a fondness for nature and a deep understanding and appreciation of quality materials.
In creating the WOODLINES Collection, Naja Utzon Popov drew inspiration from nature and the intrinsic poetry of natural materials. She explains: “I grew up in a family where we always discussed art and architecture, and where we all carefully observed nature. I inherited my approach to design at an early age from my grandfather and both my parents. It involves simultaneously weighing the surroundings, the nature and the people – all three must be considered for the result to be balanced and timeless.”
Naja Utzon Popov’s study of wood and its attributes led her to create the wood grain abstractions that highlight the wood’s linear structure and emerge as symbols of the material’s essence and simplicity. She zoomed in on wood planks, magnifying their individual, intricate details to create a familiar wood pattern. Transferred to another material, the pattern creates a new expression with clear links to the source.
“The rug is the natural gathering point of any room,” says Naja Utzon Popov. “It unites the room’s elements to form a complete and inviting atmosphere. My ambition with the WOODLINES Collection is for the rugs to emerge as elegant pieces of craftsmanship that contribute to a room’s personality.”
The WOODLINES Collection is the culmination of a unique partnership based around design, quality and craftsmanship, as well as the shared belief that design works should not be mere objects of fashion, but rather timeless statements crafted according the highest quality standards. As such, the WOODLINES rugs are hand-knotted from wool, their long pile creating a sense of luxurious softness. The rugs are tightly woven, which makes them easy to clean and ensures that the pile remains straight, with pattern intact, even with extensive use.
Carl Hansen & Son CEO Knud Erik Hansen elaborates: “From our earliest conversations, it was clear that Naja is an interesting artist whose design philosophy is in perfect harmony with our own. It’s important for us that a design partnership both complements and puts into perspective the Carl Hansen & Son story. Naja has skillfully interpreted the DNA that characterizes Carl Hansen & Son.” Moreover, by putting her personal stamp on her work, which beautifully combines contemporary design with a fondness for nature, Naja Utzon Popov continues her family tradition of creating unique art.
The WOODLINES Rug Collection consists of five unique designs in black, white and charcoal, and is available in three different sizes: 80×220 cm, 170×240 cm & 200×300 cm at the following recommended prices: EUR 797, EUR 1,530 and EUR 2,138, excl. VAT. The collection will be in stores from May 2016.
Naja Utzon Popov
Danish sculptor, textile designer and ceramicist Naja Utzon Popov was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1973 into a family of artists. She inherited her creative genes from her grandfather, Jørn Utzon, a Danish architect known for designing the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia; her mother, prominent Danish artist Lin Utzon; and her father, acclaimed Australian architect Alex Popov.
Naja’s childhood years in Denmark have always been an important source of inspiration for her work, as were the years she spent in Australia studying drawing, painting and etching at the Julian Ashton Art School. After moving to England, Naja continued her formal artistic training at the University of Westminster School of Media Arts and Design. Today, she lives in her native Denmark and works out of her studio in Copenhagen.
Thanks to her family background, Naja has always been exposed to contemporary design. These influences find expression in her work, where she translates her encounters with nature into textiles, glassware, ceramics and sculptures. By adding her own personal touch to works that beautifully combine contemporary design with Mother Nature’s gifts, Naja carries on the family tradition of creating outstanding art.
Naja’s approach has brought her great success and her designs have been well received in New York at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), where she exhibited a large-scale clay installation that was purchased by the iconic Saks Fifth Avenue department store. Her glass and ceramic designs appear all over the world, including at the Feng Sushi restaurant chain in London and galleries, such as the Galeria Kunstmann in Mallorca.