![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013993_low.jpeg?w=2048&h=1150&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277235&s=f3fdbb9952d8dc502cfcdf320f572ac6 2048w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013993_low.jpeg?w=1920&h=1078&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277235&s=989ac79e8ec1b49aa1932cb12b5aee73 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013993_low.jpeg?w=1536&h=863&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277235&s=85568a187d05c1231a10d8cfbee8bbd7 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013993_low.jpeg?w=1280&h=719&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277235&s=f0506f2aa50758b667436f2c17201b29 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013993_low.jpeg?w=1024&h=575&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277235&s=e46f763ae0765812e3097799dcc6b727 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013993_low.jpeg?w=768&h=431&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277235&s=ba938f6b42fb0dc9d9da61c8318cbd20 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013993_low.jpeg?w=512&h=287&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277235&s=7285fca5bf5244b431d6877260b79567 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013993_low.jpeg?w=256&h=143&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277235&s=de130f2340ce8edb4948ba3587035ff7 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013993_low.jpeg?w=128&h=71&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277235&s=1378f9fd0e7e4fe8906526aeb7a8e837 128w)
Jasmin Franko, 'Amnesia', installation view, 2022
Courtesy of the artist and Andersen's. Photo by Malle Madsen
Please could I ask you to talk a little bit about how your interest in Animism came to be?
I see Animism as a crucial part of sculpting - both historically, culturally, and in a non-secular manner. The materials we each choose to work with, have so many different inherent qualities and limitations - and can easily become partners to have dialogues with.
For me, there is something fundamentally intoxicating about working with a material that is so fully alive and reactant as clay is.
How do you relate ideas of memory and spirit?
I don’t think I have any satisfying answer to this question! I imagine memory and spirit as deeply interconnected, it could be two words for the same thing.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013961_low.jpeg?w=2048&h=1463&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673271164&s=0a1051ed1b631e1fd208ebd45afc2b18 2048w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013961_low.jpeg?w=1920&h=1372&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673271164&s=64708e03a3f8d0f8c1e39e4958b437bc 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013961_low.jpeg?w=1536&h=1097&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673271164&s=843d150b12fc69d9af329477a39a05df 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013961_low.jpeg?w=1280&h=914&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673271164&s=07105c4f0a23072ab2cf7f81dc825a65 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013961_low.jpeg?w=1024&h=731&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673271164&s=30b67d990f4aaf0ce65ba49c611123a7 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013961_low.jpeg?w=768&h=548&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673271164&s=e1213c3cd5b9a8829ae9a32666420ef7 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013961_low.jpeg?w=512&h=365&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673271164&s=646a0542db5ed9c6cd61501ba342b1c4 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013961_low.jpeg?w=256&h=182&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673271164&s=bc4a560d3a7f2d04c93adbf5158620f3 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013961_low.jpeg?w=128&h=91&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673271164&s=e441c0cf9bb63512d33666fee7fcda70 128w)
Jasmin Franko, 'Amnesia', installation view, 2022
Courtesy of the artist and Andersen's. Photo by Malle Madsen
How do you imagine the connection between artifacts and creatures?
I think it takes very little imagination when looking at something crafted by human hands, to see something alive. And then with a bit of empathy and humour it is not far from being a creature of some sort.
Also, items that are historical and have clear reference to old worlds are even easier to imagine as alive and energetic.
Several of your works have a signature glazing with these almost patterned bands of colour - please could I ask how you relate to this particular approach to glazing and colour?
I would say that my work in general can be sorted into different families or clans. The colorful ones I started making while studying at Bornholm and working on a project about portraying ghosts.
The colorful linework developed through a wish to manipulate the surface into becoming a type of skin - the skin of a clan of creatures that to me somehow work as lucky charms. This linework is wonderful to engage with, because I get to enhance the forms adding another layer to the process, which takes a whole lot of time and attention.
What was your experience like working in the relatively remote school of glass and ceramics on Bornholm?
It was a big challenge to begin with, that throughout the years faded into a very special and heartwarming experience. Living and working in a broken fishing town felt surprisingly uplifting artistically, and also set the perfect frame for really strong relations and isolated creative processes.
The idea of working in that kind of environment started feeling like some sort of retreat, a positive and important one.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013924_low_2023-01-09-152207_cghq.jpeg?w=1536&h=2004&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277727&s=6ade3ad3c97a2b4345176f3567edbcd4 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013924_low_2023-01-09-152207_cghq.jpeg?w=1280&h=1670&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277727&s=c5070553a21bcf81dc8ceb900b608ac6 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013924_low_2023-01-09-152207_cghq.jpeg?w=1024&h=1336&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277727&s=a20072accaff70f62524f7ec4fbda205 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013924_low_2023-01-09-152207_cghq.jpeg?w=768&h=1002&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277727&s=1e5cfd962fe138ebc75fc33a082afbc6 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013924_low_2023-01-09-152207_cghq.jpeg?w=512&h=668&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277727&s=804a6486e376ebf888305de0cd9b2ef0 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013924_low_2023-01-09-152207_cghq.jpeg?w=256&h=334&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277727&s=a768bccdf38eb901c74ecb1f593f6f2d 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013924_low_2023-01-09-152207_cghq.jpeg?w=128&h=167&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277727&s=30ffd3f14860aba8541827b13a725e56 128w)
Jasmin Franko, 'Mantis,' 2022
Courtesy of the artist and Andersen's. Photo by Malle Madsen
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/G6A7419.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1661425793&s=3bcc08533c2ec28d80fa9323f85a12c3 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/G6A7419.jpg?w=1536&h=1024&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1661425793&s=66db6384016d4862083e68fc648193e5 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/G6A7419.jpg?w=1280&h=853&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1661425793&s=20187d4e760359cbf054957aa7486f1a 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/G6A7419.jpg?w=1024&h=682&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1661425793&s=a2e31995fafeb682a4af4a0ebbce30dd 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/G6A7419.jpg?w=768&h=512&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1661425793&s=5444f586a83c83f16c3264f3d4d580cc 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/G6A7419.jpg?w=512&h=341&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1661425793&s=6ce743a1a1a7b41d1016b8cbd2d1d505 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/G6A7419.jpg?w=256&h=170&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1661425793&s=1668250cc76f8b72fea9693762ddde12 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/G6A7419.jpg?w=128&h=85&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1661425793&s=71e6cae0f23953c137dbef4c8b27ef60 128w)
Jasmin Franko, Rhythmic Cat, 2022
Courtesy of Andersen’s, Copenhagen and CHART in Tivoli 2022. Photo: Jan Søndergaard
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013910_low_2023-01-09-151049_zjjp_2023-01-11-104554_jlwv.jpeg?w=1536&h=1286&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673433954&s=07d740d5c082a627c0ebc46cf7d71016 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013910_low_2023-01-09-151049_zjjp_2023-01-11-104554_jlwv.jpeg?w=1280&h=1071&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673433954&s=cabdf649af719d9ddc8fe2360a9833cd 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013910_low_2023-01-09-151049_zjjp_2023-01-11-104554_jlwv.jpeg?w=1024&h=857&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673433954&s=9ad796cfce102c84e1dd66b61967244c 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013910_low_2023-01-09-151049_zjjp_2023-01-11-104554_jlwv.jpeg?w=768&h=643&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673433954&s=068d57e2f7967a284135518d526ef684 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013910_low_2023-01-09-151049_zjjp_2023-01-11-104554_jlwv.jpeg?w=512&h=428&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673433954&s=7319fc2aab01260cca3181d2f10c7460 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013910_low_2023-01-09-151049_zjjp_2023-01-11-104554_jlwv.jpeg?w=256&h=214&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673433954&s=f18d763b8392cd51a4bbc3fbffefb314 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013910_low_2023-01-09-151049_zjjp_2023-01-11-104554_jlwv.jpeg?w=128&h=107&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673433954&s=76f8ba47aeec5cf048022dc5dfafcc96 128w)
Jasmin Franko, 'Slog Head,' 2022
Courtesy of the artist and Andersen's. Photo by Madsen
Are you interested in characters or storytelling in your work? Do you think your sculptures are endowed with personality?
I am definitely interested in character building. I very much enjoy building families or groupings of different characters, who have certain references to symbolism, mythologies, nostalgia, dreams, mysticism etc. I work very much like any other person who creates a world for themselves and inhabits it with characters.
Please could I ask you to talk a little bit about how you decided upon the wonderful 'podiums' that are included in your current solo show Amnesia at Andersen's?
The podiums I created for Amnesia were made to underline the notion that soil conceals memory - that the underground is a large container of collective memory.
Why do you decide to work with a material like clay?
Clay is such an alive and humble material. It truly encourages you to have a dialogue with it. It speaks. I haven't yet found another medium that does it in the same way for me. The very primitive nature of clay makes it uncomplicated to enter a process of externalizing inner imagery, dreams, nostalgia and other non-material influences.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013971_low.jpeg?w=2048&h=1534&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275844&s=3740e1f5356aa0648dc36c1d571c077e 2048w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013971_low.jpeg?w=1920&h=1438&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275844&s=9a8fdfc298c1633b2dee5811b86ae711 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013971_low.jpeg?w=1536&h=1150&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275844&s=1b2df456910fbf524b71efa0083947e0 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013971_low.jpeg?w=1280&h=958&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275844&s=7b403fe3cef8d1e7405aca76f7a697cf 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013971_low.jpeg?w=1024&h=767&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275844&s=e0f4403647eb9b233270406d4fbf62eb 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013971_low.jpeg?w=768&h=575&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275844&s=a09daea3be32b0fee5397edbfe817e55 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013971_low.jpeg?w=512&h=383&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275844&s=53311b301379aeb012755ee97892bf52 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013971_low.jpeg?w=256&h=191&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275844&s=ab449c15afdd6b01b270843141146baf 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/CF013971_low.jpeg?w=128&h=95&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275844&s=403a08a66f066262c507788e945ea5c4 128w)
Jasmin Franko, 'Amnesia', installation view, 2022
Courtesy of the artist and Andersen's. Photo by Malle Madsen
How does your approach to working change when you are producing more relief-adjacent or wall-mounted works as opposed to freestanding sculptural works?
The process of sculpting for different surfaces varies in the way that I initiate the piece. Working on a freestanding sculpture, the process begins on the ground and coils towards the top - creating a dynamic movement that very naturally grows at a certain steady pace according to intuition.
Whereas the process of sculpting for walls for instance breaks the flow and forces me to begin in more abrupt places, cutting images in half and letting them grow from a new place of greater complexity.
Are there particular artists whose work has been most important for you?
There are many artists that are important to me. I must say I am especially grateful to Ovartaci, whom I regard as one of the most interesting treasures of Danish art history. Also Hieronymus Bosch, Frida Kahlo and M.C Escher have always been important to me.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013871_low.jpeg?w=2048&h=1364&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277994&s=9586aed8975628963a05f6eb2bba32c9 2048w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013871_low.jpeg?w=1920&h=1279&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277994&s=6bb2a7f99356fed5994605bcf9e68f7d 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013871_low.jpeg?w=1536&h=1023&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277994&s=dd8c48368c82b4658968cde5745cc5c2 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013871_low.jpeg?w=1280&h=852&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277994&s=5b29139e1f6dc1f0119ce7311a5513c6 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013871_low.jpeg?w=1024&h=682&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277994&s=9aad810e414de83caedc02d1766880ad 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013871_low.jpeg?w=768&h=511&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277994&s=168f7fec9dd13764591e7c6b2525b8f6 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013871_low.jpeg?w=512&h=341&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277994&s=673b79a26899b862e911a5db74019d23 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013871_low.jpeg?w=256&h=170&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277994&s=b91611ffd4a9efde8037874bcc1d7183 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/JF-CF013871_low.jpeg?w=128&h=85&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673277994&s=15fc7fa1c2866574734b5eed7f0f8c23 128w)
Jasmin Franko, 'Amnesia', installation view, 2022
Courtesy of the artist and Andersen's. Photo by Malle Madsen
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/03JasminFrankoSq_2023-01-09-144712_lddx.jpg?w=1024&h=1361&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275633&s=89eed2ea64c5bde3f77ab673c789ea07 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/03JasminFrankoSq_2023-01-09-144712_lddx.jpg?w=768&h=1021&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275633&s=59928e873cf81de0b52b102e02dce734 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/03JasminFrankoSq_2023-01-09-144712_lddx.jpg?w=512&h=680&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275633&s=e6ed2913190bd441aeb04ccbaf016bc9 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/03JasminFrankoSq_2023-01-09-144712_lddx.jpg?w=256&h=340&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275633&s=3ed5571c372cf2ed2626f19d23443506 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/03JasminFrankoSq_2023-01-09-144712_lddx.jpg?w=128&h=170&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1673275633&s=6d4013653d969438d2756a8794832831 128w)
Jasmin Franko (b. 1992) is an Iraqi-Hungarian artist born in Denmark. She lives and works in Copenhagen with a degree from the Royal Danish Academy - Architecture, Design & Conservation - Glass and Ceramics (2021).
Franko’s practice involves a close engagement with form, using clay as her medium. Over the past years she has been especially focused on reclaiming the importance of craftsmanship in the landscape of arts.
Through reference to nostalgia, dreams and art history, Franko’s ceramic sculptures share a fundamental interest in animism in contemporary society alongside the limitless potential of the living material clay.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/ID5.jpeg?w=1536&h=2047&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1641850986&s=e83ba8334f14cc918d50a2c67e169244 1536w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/ID5.jpeg?w=1280&h=1705&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1641850986&s=fcc6b1f112fd2562c1d9679ca650c28a 1280w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/ID5.jpeg?w=1024&h=1364&q=82&fm=jpg&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1641850986&s=7eca9f8e19ef5ae50ba5c0724e0f3486 1024w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/ID5.jpeg?w=768&h=1023&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1641850986&s=a563cf4a73ea764b416e5781d679760d 768w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/ID5.jpeg?w=512&h=682&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1641850986&s=a183d800e51b861231c1560c2a961907 512w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/ID5.jpeg?w=256&h=341&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1641850986&s=2e7c773e93aba0efc1a487a8bc6b2a37 256w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/fluffy-tenrec/production/ID5.jpeg?w=128&h=170&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1641850986&s=d24c155ada4b3d25a0968d371532f765 128w)
Oscar Gilbert is a gallerist and writer based in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2019 he founded the contemporary art gallery OTP Copenhagen.