This November we welcome Daniel Freyne’s first solo exhibition with The Gallery, Perceive. Formally trained as a blacksmith, Freyne’s work is a modern representation of a timeless craft; a homage to the foundations of blacksmithing, yet a distinct breakaway from the romanticised notions of what a smith is and is not. Based in Edinburgh, Freyne embarked on a blacksmithing journey over twelve years ago. Following a rigorous five-year apprenticeship, spanning six European countries, Freyne collaborated with world renowned blacksmiths before completing a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in fine art from Gothenburg University, Sweden.
Earlier this year Daniel welcomed us into his studio and forge located in Ratho, just outside Edinburgh. Read on to discover more about his collection and enjoy our short film below that gives you a glimpse into his studio and process…
Inside the Studio
Pressure
This series of work gives scope to the notion that nothing is everlasting. By exploring material though the process of applying immense pressure, Freyne’s objective is to make the steel crack; manifesting the breakdown of the materiality.
An Ode to Nothing | From Nothing to Something: From Rock to Bowl
An Ode to Nothing is a project that seeks to understand the philosophical concepts of nothingness as it echoes through a craft process. Freyne explores this concept through repetitive tooling to create/obtain subjectivity and positions himself as he articulates ‘how’ and ‘if’ this can be achieved. Through the process of craft, Freyne incorporates traditional methods that were present in the field of blacksmithing, such as iron smelting and rising techniques. The project starts on a beach, where the seemingly ordinary rocks are gathered and smelted into iron, then turned into a vessel.
the process
In October 2022, Daniel travelled to Denmark to learn the traditional craft of iron smelting. He was taught by Master smelter Jens Olson and funded by QEST.
Over the course of a week, Daniel gathered rocks (iron ore) from a beach and then proceeded to create his own iron bloom. Daniel takes us through this process in his visual diary below…
anchor
This body of work is an investigation into notions of strength. It examines a period of vulnerability, when life was uncertain; a seeming incompleteness that eventually led to a breaking point. These ostensibly solid blocks represent the moment before that collapse. The solid mass retains its strength, yet layer by layer the piece crumbles.
armoured vessel
Delving into the material’s intricacies, Freyne casts a spotlight on the unexpected fragility of iron—an aspect often overlooked. Through deliberate application of pressure, aiming to induce cracks in the iron, he portrays a shift: the gentle breakdown of something inherently strong.
Daniel Freyne’s exhibition Perceive runs from 31 October – 23 November 2024 and you can view further details here.
