An article by LAURA LUNDSTRÖM
Adam was interview by LUNDSTRÖM for Västra Nyland about his sculpture - Water #3 in April 2021.
This is the English translation:
Adam Detre's sculpture has worked hard on his sculpture. PHOTO: LAURA LUNDSTRÖM
Adam Detre moved to Fiskars with his family last year. He has already found a project; a public work of art in wood.
The Detre family, who had lived in the Philippines for many years, were looking for a new home and had heard of Fiskars. Fiskars is known for its artist collective and has an international contact through the residency program Artist in Residence, and that is the way the family found here.
Detre grew up in England, but the family wanted to move to a calmer society when they were expecting children. Detre's wife, Saila Detre , is from Finland so it was not so far away that they landed here.
Surprising turn in the career
Adam Detre began studying art in London but continued his economics studies. He rediscovered his creative side through a surprising project in the Philippines.
- I was commissioned to design and build a sculpture with lighting in the background, to the hotel where I worked as a hotel manager for eight years. This led to eight more modules in the same style.
Detre continued to work with sculpture alongside the work. In 2017, he started his company Adam Detre Designs. Detre's artwork can be found in several countries around the world. Through social media, customers have found his work.
Fought through the cold
It was not entirely easy to get through the project Water # 3 , which is the name of the sculpture located near Kopparsmedjan, in the middle of the village in Fiskars. The tree had been sawn off for some time when Detre saw it in the autumn of 2020, and got an idea to make something out of it.
- Thanks to Jouni Virtanen, event manager at Fiskars' company, I was able to start work in February, says Detre.
Due to the cold winter, it has been demanding to work with the frozen wood.
- Therefore, it has taken longer than expected, but I wanted to show that I do not give up and now it is soon clear, says Detre and looks up at the over four meter high sculpture.
Water # 3 is the name of the sculpture Adam Detre has been working on since February. It will be ready soon. PHOTO: LAURA LUNDSTRÖM
In fact, the future of the sculpture is still unclear. Detre hopes that the collaboration between him and Fiskars' company will work so that the tree is not cut down.
- I wish my son grows up and can see the sculpture, which then probably became silver gray, as the wood has not been treated, says Adam Detre.
- Form and function are interesting, and I often work like that, but sometimes I just want to create something that is beautiful to see, says Detre.
The water is represented in the wood
The sculpture represents the water, the river that flows through the village and is - and historically has been - important for the mill.
- Different versions went through my mind before I decided on this one. It's about capturing the rhythm and currents of the water, but light and shadow are incredibly important when working with sculpture, says Detre.
The project is also about using materials in a sensible way, reusing or giving old materials new life. Therefore, the sawn-off tree also fits into Detre's ideological world of thought.
Giving back to society through public art is something Detre strongly believes in, and therefore hopes to work on similar projects in the future.
- Maybe someone will be inspired when they see this sculpture, Detre says hopefully.