Josef Gereige
Josef Gereige is a woodturner based in Archanes, Crete, whose practice brings together an engineering background and a self-taught approach to craftsmanship. Working with locally sourced timber, particularly olive wood, he creates vessels and sculptural objects that reveal the distinctive grain and character of each piece. His forms draw inspiration from the island’s archaeological heritage, including Minoan vessels and ancient Greek amphorae. Alongside his partner, Olga Genetzaki, he explores the possibilities of wood through making and teaching, keeping the craft active through experimentation and the sharing of knowledge.
THE PROCESS
Josef’s process begins with the possibilities held within a piece of wood. Grain, colour and natural openings guide his decisions, suggesting forms that will bring these features into view. He approaches turning as a sculptural act of removal, gradually uncovering an object through a succession of considered cuts. Locally available woods connect this process to the landscape of Crete, while its ancient vessels offer references for proportion and silhouette.
On the lathe, Josef shapes and hollows the timber, balancing the outer profile with the space contained within. His work ranges from enclosed vessels with slender finials to exceptionally thin bowls, where careful control of the cutting tools creates lightness from solid wood. Through techniques he has developed and teaches himself, he continues to explore the meeting point between woodturning and sculpture.
Natural irregularities can become defining elements of a finished piece. An opening may remain intact, revealing the hollow interior, while a curve is chosen to emphasise an unusual grain pattern. Design decisions are often developed in dialogue with Olga, whose perspective supports the refinement of each object. This exchange extends to Josef’s teaching, where demonstrations and practical lessons share the attention to tools, movement and material that underpins his work. Making becomes both an exploration of the wood’s individual character and a means of passing the craft forward.
