Artist profile: John Lewis Jensen

Artist: John Lewis Jensen
Website: Jensen Knives

Knives are my primary form of expression and exploration, and therefore encompass most of my day-to-day artistic creation. Like most artists, one form or aspect of creation does not define the totality of who I am. However, knives as art, offer me a focal point for many of my varied interest.
The knife is an art form unlike any other, both rich in form and function. It is aesthetic, and quite obvious in its direct use. This poses an interesting challenge; to create art out of an object that is so defined by its form and associations is an interesting and complex task. My work is about the exercise of pushing boundaries within a certain set parameter.

In these modern times “Art” is defined as a platform for ideas. The knife is where I exercise and expresses my thoughts on art, culture, sociology, archeology, anthropology, and metaphor. I am drawn to the knife because it challenges me on many creative levels. The knife is also loaded with history, symbology, and allegory. For me, the knife is a great platform for art. One of the many objectives of art is to challenge people’s views. From a psychological standpoint, knives evoke strong emotions. Personally, the art-knife represents the ideology of dualism; the art-knife holds beauty and violence at the same time; two concepts at opposite ends of the spectrum are being represented in one object. Personally, I feel that the spiritual goal of humanity is to find balance within all aspects of life. For me this constitutes enlightenment. One-way to achieve this balance is to take opposing ideas and bring them into a place of union. The knife is a form in which I can physically express this philosophy, and explore the polarity of ideas that it represents. I am intrigued by the implications of being attracted, yet repelled by the same object. With this approach, I hope that my work may open doors into unfamiliar territory, revealing that the dichotomy of life can be viewed through an inanimate object.

My work is hard to categorize, and that also adds to the appeal. With my knives I am straddling two sides of the fence. I see Art, but some people only want to see knife. Many people can only see “weapon”. I think of my work as hand-held jewelry or sculpture. I’m dealing with form, material, ornamentation, and by default of the object: idea. Overall, I am hoping to change the knife’s overall perception.
I have found that all of the aforementioned aspects contribute to my interest in knife making as an artistic expression beyond that of just the physical process, which I also cherish. The pursuit of the art-knife is exciting because it is like forging into uncharted territory. The unlimited potential of this little explored form gives me complete freedom in terms of ideas, materials and design.

I also feel obligated to carry on, and help keep alive the age-old, time-honored techniques of craftsmanship. Perhaps I can also help encourage people to slow down and re-embrace aspects of a non-instant gratification world. I am interested in educating, dialog and sharing with the public in many ways: from the philosophies I hold, to the technical craftsmanship I have mastered.