Stefan FINK
WOODEN FOUNTAIN PENS

A wood turner, fountain pen artist, furniture maker, product designer, creator of wooden writing instruments, German Meister. A searcher and lover of the finest woods, perfectionist, actor, and humorous entertainer—there are many ways to describe the personality and work of Stefan Fink.

Surrounded by wood since childhood, he began an apprenticeship as a craftsman right after finishing middle school. After refining his woodworking skills, at twenty-four, he entered an art university to study product design, and four years later, he established his own workshop.

In one corporate project, Stefan advised that the wood should be left to rest and dry for three years, but the company used it after only six months, resulting in failure and a substantial loss. Wood is a material that tests the character of those who work with it. “You can’t deceive wood. I want to create something that reflects my soul,” he often says. It was only natural that Stefan developed a working style in which he takes responsibility for every stage of the production process. With unwavering conviction, Stefan Fink has become a rare independent fountain pen artist—one who works with living, breathing solid wood.

The fountain pens Stefan creates are not tools meant merely for today or tomorrow, but instruments made to stand the test of decades, for a life time, or even generations, radiating a lasting, vital presence. The original nibs, produced by the long-established Bock company in Heidelberg, Germany, bear the engraving of a finch bird (= Fink in German language). The gentle curves of the wood that naturally bring a smile, the smooth warmth of its surface, the ideal weight, and the perfect balance between writing comfort and grip — all these qualities astonish those who hold his pens.

To unite wood grown by nature, finely crafted metal, and the exceptional functionality of a writing instrument into such a small, seamless form — free of any contradiction — requires Stefan’s perfectionism, the depth of his experience, and his patient respect for the wood. Each pen is crafted entirely by his own hands, using wood that has been naturally air-dried for long years, carefully preserving its natural grain. Even the final metal finishing is done by him personally. When viewed through a lens of sensitivity, these graceful pieces reveal Stefan’s pride and affection shining from within.

Perhaps that is why these fountain pens hold a quiet magic that draws people to write. The more you touch them, the more you feel compelled to put words on paper. “Writing,“ says Stefan, ”means getting in touch with myself, with my soul.” He made his first fountain pen in 1987, and he still uses it today, for example to write love letters to his wife.

For this exhibition Stefan Fink, a luminary in the world of fountain pens, will visit Japan to present his newest creations. In addition to his classic fountain pens, the showcase will feature a new model crafted from exquisite grenadilla wood, dried for over thirty years and adorned with silver repairs; a pencil-style sketching pen; a ballpoint pen; and a portable pocket fountain pen inspired by his friendship with film director Wim Wenders. A special selection of writing instruments will be available exclusively for this occasion. (Details of the 2016 exhibition can be found here.)

● Stefan Fink × kamisoe
At this exhibition, original washi letter paper created by Kamisoe — a Kyoto-based karakami workshop — will also be available for purchase. These paper works are crafted by the workshop owner Ko Kado using woodblocks from Fink’s workshop. The exhibition will also feature prints in the karakami technique inspired by Stefan Fink’s art, as well as striking three-dimensional objects, each piece crafted by Ko Kado from Japanese washi paper. These objects serve as both sculptures and writing surfaces.
*Karakami is one of Kyoto’s traditional crafts—a woodblock hand-printing technique in which colored patterns are applied to washi paper, block by block, using pigments.

kamisoe・Ko KADO
Born in Kyoto in 1975. Graduated from the Graphic Design Department at Academy of Art University (San Francisco) in 2002. After working as a graphic designer in New York, he returned to Japan. He trained at a long-established Japanese washi paper workshop in Kyoto and established his own workshop and retail space, “Kamisoe,” in 2009. His architectural projects include the renovation of the basement level of Wako’s flagship store (2024) and the formal tea room “Sabi” (2022, Taiga Takahashi). He also supplies Japanese washi paper to various artists and designers including Hiroshi Sugimoto, Makoto Kagoshima, Ryoji Sakamoto, Arts & Science, and smbetsm.

● Stefan FINK × Wooden Vessels
As a wood turner, Stefan Fink has always been drawn to creating wooden vessels. Turning a dense hardwood like grenadilla on a lathe to form vessels is an almost impossible challenge. For this exhibition, he created a special series of vessels using the finest grenadilla wood, aged for many years, and paired each with a silver lid. The lid spins like a top—a playful surprise of Stefan’s sense of humor. The minimalist finish, free of any decoration, is achieved solely through the highest quality materials and masterful craftsmanship.

● Stefan Fink as Filmed by Donata Wenders

“Ode to Craftsmanship” — 8-minute film
Directed by Donata Wenders  
Donata Wenders is a German photographer and filmmaker. Alongside her deep involvement in the production of her husband Wim Wenders’ films, she pursues numerous independent art projects. Currently she is producing a documentary series titled “Ode to Craftsmanship,” and as part of this series, she has released a work focusing on the exceptional craftsmanship of Stefan Fink. With permission from Donata Wenders, this work will be screened at the gallery, marking its first public showing in Japan.

Stefan FINK
Born in 1958 in Hamburg to a family involved in the teak wood trade, Stefan Fink began his journey in craftsmanship by apprenticing for three years in the workshop of Werner Nehring after finishing middle school. He further refined his skills as a craftsman at various wood turning studios in Hamburg and Munich. In 1982, he entered the Industrial Design Department at the Hamburg University of Fine Arts. After graduating in 1986, he established his own workshop in Hamburg. That same year, Fink submitted a piece to a cultural design competition, during which he discovered that wood was an ideal material for fountain pens. Since then, he has dedicated himself to developing handmade wooden fountain pens.

Collections of his work are held at:
Museum of Art and Design Hamburg (MK&G) Hamburg
The Municipal Museum for Applied Art Frankfurt
Neue Sammlung, State Museum of Applied Arts Munich
Schleswig-Holstein State Museum, Gottorf Castle, Schleswig

Awards:
1991: Advancement Award of the AdK (Association for Applied Arts)
2004: Bavarian State Prize
2005: Justus Brinckmann Prize (Justus Brinckmann Preis)
2016: Craftsman of the Year, Hamburg
2016: German Manufacturing Award

photo by Kai Boxhammer, Donata ＆ Wim Wenders, gallery nichinichi