Artist Talk: Ida Tinning and Mentze Ottenstein

Why are we seeing renewed interest in craftsmanship, artisanal work, and natural materials right now - and what does it tell us about the time we are creating and building in? Biogenic materials are gaining ground in architecture and raising new questions about material understanding, craftsmanship, and aesthetics.

The conversation draws on Ida Tinning's exhibition INTO THE REEDS, where reed thatch forms the basis for an investigation of materiality, landscape, body, and our relationship with nature. From there, threads are drawn to the work of Mathias Mentze and Alexander Ottenstein with Laboratorium for Flet at Sophienholm, where weaving was examined across history, artisanal craft, and contemporary art. The two architects were also part of the jury for Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition 2026, where natural materials had a special focus.

Ida Tinning (born 1985) is an architect educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture. She has worked with material-oriented research projects at the research centre CITA and today runs Studio Ida Tinning at the intersection of architecture, art, and material-based practice.

Mathias Mentze and Alexander Ottenstein (born 1987 and 1988) have in recent years established themselves in exhibition design and curation of art and craft exhibitions. They are behind, among others, 'Laboratorium for Flet' (2024) and 'Happy Moments in Nature with Danish Mushrooms', both at Sophienholm.