Kykvendi - introduction

Hello dear reader,
Welcome to my website.

After 10 years of Kykvendi, I thought it was time to give you a little overview; to present the shop, the hesitant beginnings, the “why and how,” and what I’m trying to share through it.

Here, I’ll only talk about my journey as a sculptor, even though drawing has always been part of my life.

I began historical reenactment, mostly “Viking,” around 2010, going from medieval markets to small documentary film shoots.
The following years, I lived in Germany and got involved in all kinds of reenactments; late 15th century, Napoleonic, Gallo-Roman, and even Neolithic.

At the very beginning, I created a small shop called Matcha Dolls, where I tried to make ball-jointed dolls in resin. I sculpted three different models, but sanding resin wasn't eco-friendly, and my mental health didn’t keep up with the project.

In 2014/2015, someone commissioned a few pieces, including a belt inspired by the Birka excavations. I went ahead and made them, only to never get paid.
A nasty surprise, but it led me to open my Kykvendi shop, where I listed my first unpaid designs, some replicas, and an early attempt at recreating the Harby Valkyrie.

(A little spiritual side note: hard times and negative events can always open the door to something better!)

I sculpted many models for Labortemporis studio, mostly statues and 3D projects. Some of them ended up in museums, which is always humbling, knowing that our little creations can replace lost or damaged artifacts in a display.

So, in 2015, I chose the name Kykvendi for my shop, a word I adapted from Old Norse, meaning bestiary, creature.
At first, I wanted to create mythological creatures only, like Fenrir and other beings from legend. That idea never fully materialized, and instead, I found myself sculpting Norse and Germanic deities.
That’s how Odin, Thor, and Freya were born in 2015, the first figures I made that weren’t replicas of ancient artifacts.

A personal perspective I want to clarify here:
It was important for me to move away from the world of replicas and strict historical accuracy, something I’d been deeply involved in for years.
It’s a niche world, and one that deserves respect, but for me, it didn’t quite resonate.
I love archaeology and admire what many archaeologists and historians accomplish in unearthing the ancient world.
But what I wanted was something else, to create a more contemporary and tangible way to appreciate these myths and ancient stories, staying in the realm of fantasy while still holding the old texts in mind, the ones that speak of supernatural beings from other worlds.

Here are a few photos of my older works, replicas or not, from my early Kykvendi days:

All the models you see on this site were developed gradually since 2015, always keeping the style of the Harby Valkyrie in mind.
What makes her special is her three-dimensional shape, unlike most jewelry from the same period, which was usually flat.

I was later encouraged to sculpt deities from other myths and cultures in a similar style , which is kind of funny, considering the origin of that style.
It fits Celtic deities particularly well, though their ancient representations often feature a flat nose in the center of the face, and two large ovals for eyes.
(When you compare that with what the Greeks were sculpting in the same era, it’s quite interesting.)

There have been ups and downs, and what truly mattered was never giving up, no matter what obstacles came my way.
There were moments of doubt, especially with social media. I struggle a lot with social anxiety, it’s always been that way, even though I genuinely love people.
It’s hard for me to build a community or to create a reassuring social environment.
That’s why I pour my energy and perspective into these amulets, sharing what each deity or creature conveys through its own egregore.

That brings me to spirituality:

If you’re more down-to-earth and not interested in esoteric content, feel free to skip this part.

When you create divine figures, you’re naturally dealing with polytheism, and therefore a spiritual or religious dimension.
Whether you believe in these old deities or see them as symbolic figures from ancient times is entirely up to you.
As I keep creating, I feel more and more like a traveler through myths.
It’s fascinating to learn how these idols were once worshipped; how they held importance in every aspect of daily life. Rituals, temples, and offerings were an integral part of our pagan ancestors' world.
And it’s just as fascinating to see so many people today reconnect with this ancient faith.

That said, since I create figures from many traditions, I don’t see myself as a devoted follower of any one pantheon over another.

I’m half Japanese, and I was partly raised within the Shinto religion, which is still practiced in Japan today.
Shinto is an animist and polytheistic belief system, and even though I’m agnostic, it taught me to see everything -living or not- as having a soul or spirit.
I think that’s a beautiful way to live, because it encourages us to value all things beyond their material use and to care for what surrounds us.

In a world driven by overconsumption and the cult of instant change, I believe it's essential to reconnect with this idea of protective spirits, to live more harmoniously with ourselves and with nature, without feeling alienated or like we’re trying to fill a void.

That’s also why I sometimes touch on witchcraft; not deeply, but gently, because I see a clear link between modern practices and ancient pagan rituals led by priestesses.

I’ll talk more about these spiritual views in future posts.

Now, in 2025, Kykvendi is ten years old, and I’m incredibly grateful to have been able to live from my craft up to this point.
Thank you, all of you, for your support through the years.

In recent times, I’ve sculpted many amulets based on Norse and Germanic mythology, but now I’m drawn to even older worlds: the Celtic and Gallo-Roman traditions, and perhaps gently reaching toward Egyptian and Hellenistic themes.

Thank you for reading,
See you soon for more informative posts.