Listen to This Woodworker Explain the Poetic Pursuit of Building Boats
“Having known the trees that the timber has come from to make that boat, it feels like an extension of yourself.”
There’s a certain, deeply compelling inflection that people take on when discussing their love for a craft — this much is perfectly captured in this soothing short film by Pixillion following Cornwall-based woodworker and ship builder Ben Harris, who narrates his journey into carpentry with an unhurried, melodic lilt. Seemingly a born woodworker — his first word ever was “log” — Harris began his career at 15 as the assistant to a cabinet maker and hasn’t looked back since. Here, he explains the art of transforming a tree into a boat, essentially giving it a second life on the water and likening it to creating an animal that swims, flies and even sings.
For more meditative shorts on a passion for craft, watch this documentary following a master luthier in 4K definition.
