Matthias Kühn is a German metal artist and master blacksmith. His work combines traditional techniques with contemporary concepts, often incorporating found and discarded metal. After completing his apprenticeship, he traveled as a journeyman through several countries, including Australia, England, Ireland, and Austria. In 2023, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Metal Art from the University of Gothenburg. Since 2024, he has held the official Meister title. Kühn’s work has been exhibited internationally, including in Japan, the USA, Sweden, and Estonia. He lives and works in Osnabrück, Germany.
Artist Statement
To me, metal is a nonverbal language. It is my language of choice. I am fluent. I can speak different dialects, jargon, slang, and a very formal version. The tension between harsh and soft-spoken notions within the material drives the urgency to speak. Opposite to the many existing spoken or written languages, it is universal and has not obeyed the necessity of linguistic knowledge to understand. It is a language that needs curiosity but no vocabulary for understanding. In contrast, speaking requires a high level of eloquence.
Photo by Jun Ishikura