My artistic practice is rooted in blacksmithing and sculpture. I work primarily with forging, heating and shaping metal, while also combining metal with other materials and techniques. I am interested in how traditional craft can be used to create contemporary forms that are both physically powerful and conceptually open. I see iron as a material that connects the ancient with the future: something shaped by human hands for thousands of years, yet still capable of expressing contemporary ideas and imagined futures.
My latest work, The Monolith, stands as a sign of timelessness—silent, straight and unwavering. Its dark, monolithic form reflects strength, while the void at its centre invites the viewer to consider the meaning of silence and absence. It does not speak, but it is present, and within that presence lies its power.
The work hints neither at the past nor the future, but simply at existence—like iron or stone. The viewer is not offered a narrative, but rather a space to think: to stand face to face with something mysterious. Is it a remnant from the past, or a symbol of the future?
Biography
Kristjan Tammjärv is an Estonian blacksmith, sculptor and public art fabricator currently living and working in Hamburg, Germany. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Jewellery and Blacksmithing from the Estonian Academy of Arts.
With over five years of experience in large-scale art fabrication, he has collaborated with established Estonian artists, including Oliver Soomets, Argo Männik and others, contributing to the production and realisation of public art commissions.
His practice combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary approaches to material and form. While metalworking and forging remain at the core of his practice, he also has experience working with carpentry, stone grinding, fibreglass mould-making and other fabrication techniques. This broad technical background allows him to move between different materials and methods depending on the requirements of each project.
Tammjärv has exhibited his work in solo and group exhibitions in Estonia. His works are held in private collections in Estonia, Norway and Germany, as well as in the collection of the Estonian Academy of Arts.
His artistic interests include mythology, dystopia and futurology, often exploring the relationship between material, technology, nature and imagined futures.