Bodo Sperlein is a London based product designer and brand consultant. Bodo and his team extensively devise projects from concept to delivery and have a passion to revive heritage brands.
Having studied Three Dimensional Design at Camberwell College of Arts, part of the University of the Arts London. He set up a self-titled design consultancy where he is Creative Director at the Oxo Tower on London's South Bank where he still works. Throughout Sperlein's career, he has worked globally with brands such as Nikko, TANE, Dibbern and Loewe. He works closely with Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury hotels and renowned retailers, launching numerous collections of home accessories, including luxury tableware, lighting, and furniture.
Video Bodo Sperlein
Early life
Sperlein was born in Germany, before moving to London, where he studied Design at Camberwell College of Arts (now part of the University of the Arts London).
Maps Bodo Sperlein
Works
Sperlein initial work focused on ceramics, as well as lighting, furniture and interior accessories creating collections such as Black Berry and White Sculptural.
In his early career, he developed a collection of tableware for Thomas Goode called Grandiflora and a home accessory collection for fashion store Browns and also creating a collection of giftware for historic porcelain manufactures Nymphenburg, established 1747.
Following this Sperlein' studio worked on collaborations with brands such as Lladró, Mulberry, Swarovski and Hakkasan.
More recently Sperlein' has worked for brands such as Nikko, Lladró and Dibbern, his tableware is featured at restaurants such as The Ledbury, Yauatcha, The Square, The GreenHouse, Roppongi Terrace by Philippe Mille and The Five Fields to name but a few.
Triangelis Church
In 2016 Bodo was approached for a bespoke commission by Triangelis church in Erbach, near Frankfurt in Germany. As his first public space project, it was an exciting opportunity to apply his creative process to a new sphere.
The brief was remarkable: to design a font, ambo and candle holder to be installed following the renovation of the neo-gothic church. The items had to fulfil a specific function whilst working with the influence of the interior space - both its physicality and sanctity.
Responding to these unique surroundings, Bodo made the radical proposal to use movement to create a dynamic interaction between the pieces and their environment. The font is dramatically suspended from the ceiling and when needed, smoothly descends with an ethereal theatricality.
The antique chandeliers that hang in the church were a primary source of inspiration. Dating from the Netherlands in the sixteenth century and made from brass, these are familiar objects in the paintings of the Dutch masters, such as Vermeer. When raised, the font mirrors the chandelier with its patinated bronze finish echoing that of its neighbour. Through this material synergy, the designs respect the space and coexist harmoniously with the existing historical aesthetic.
The building is not only used for religious services, weddings and baptisms but also concerts. Therefore the pieces are designed to be adaptable. The raising and lowering of the font is a ceremonial act, embellishing the ritual of baptism and symbolically connecting the earth to the heavens.
As well as honouring and understanding the church space, the pieces also recognise the culture and craftsmanship of the surrounding area, using local wood for the reading stand on the ambo and traditional bronze sand-casting methods at the family-run Glassl Foundry in Michaelstadt.
This commission is a continuation of an ancient relationship between the church and the arts. Churches used to be major clients for the applied arts, as every generation would update aspects of the building to reflect the changing spirit of the community. The trinity of pieces have been likened to a vine or a cloud, but their forms are deliberately ambiguous to give individuals the freedom to make their own interpretation and associations. Through these designs, the current parish can enhance their church and leave a lasting memory.
Lladró
Lladró (Valencian pronunciation: [?a'ð?o]) is a Spanish company based in Tavernes Blanques, Valencia, that produces porcelain figurines. The company was founded in 1953 by three brothers, Juan, José and Vicente Lladró, in the village of Almàssera near Valencia. Starting with items such as vases and jugs, it wasn't until 1956 that they started producing the sculptures for which they are now most famous. Enthusiasm for the items produced by the Lladró brothers saw their small workshop expand several times until eventually they moved to Tavernes Blanques in 1958.
Sperlein' work historic porcelain brand Lladró, created a range of porcelain jewellery, lighting and home accessories from element of their figurines. The large-scale Magic Forest chandelier was exhibited as part of a solo show at the England and Co. contemporary art gallery in 2008 along with a series of wood mirrors and a lit mirror called Eclipse, made from the material Corian.
Swarovski
Swarovski AG (/sw?r'?fski/ sworr-off-skee, German pronunciation [sva'??fski])[2] is an Austrian producer of luxury cut lead glass, headquartered in Wattens, Austria. The Swarovski Crystal range includes crystal glass sculptures and miniatures, jewelry and couture, home decor, and chandeliers. Along with a range of other fashion and homeware designers, Sperlein was invited to participate Swarovski Crystal Wedding Project, creating table decorations inspired by the institution of marriage.
Nikko
Nikko Ceramics is a Japanese manufacturer of fine ceramics, founded in 1908 in Kanazawa, Ishikawa by Lord Maeda and local nobles. The Maeda lords especially fostered arts and crafts, and made of Kanazawa a cultural center like Tokyo and Kyoto. The firm was famous for their ironstone ceramics, but Nikko has broadened its output since the 1970s. Western materials such as bone china were introduced and developed using Nikko's own advanced technologies. Today all aspects of production from glaze formulation to mould making are manufactured in-house by Nikko's team of craftspeople. Bodo Sperlein collaborated with the Japanese manufacturer Nikko Ceramics, for whom Sperlein designed collections (Bodo Sperlein for Nikko products) also consulting on marketing strategy. They have currently produced seven tableware collections, including the Sensu, Blossom and Macaroon ranges, as well as the Blossom Lighting design.
Dibbern
Dibbern GmbH is a German manufacturer of porcelain, glass and textile products for household use. The company was founded in 1972 by Bernd T. Dibbern, who had previously worked as an importer of Scandinavian porcelain brands in Bargteheide founded. The Dibbern collections reached in the course of time a certain cult status. Known customers include the Lufthansa First Class, the Federal Chancellery, various German embassies and several international luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants worldwide. Sperlein produced several ranges for Dibbern. These include the Black Forest, Golden Forest, Golden Pearl, Golden Timber, Golden Leaf, and Delice collection.
Phil Howard
Sperlein's tableware has featured in Phil Howard's Michelin starred restaurant, The Square, for several years. Sperlein has created a signature hand-painted plate for The Square and has been featured in both The Square: Savoury and The Square: Sweet cookbooks.
Bodo Sperlein for Tane
The name TANE comes from the French word tannerie, which means saddlery. Since at the beginning TANE was a saddlery, the first letters from the word tannerie were taken to form a short easy name to remember. Mexico City became the home of the first TANE store in the early 40s, they engaged in making and selling leather goods. Eleven years later, the business made a turn to silver. TANE with more than half a century of existence has now become a Mexican Heritage silverware leader.
Bodo Sperlein was chosen by, TANE, to launch its hollowware collection globally.
Loewe
In January 2016, the German home entertainment brand, Loewe appointed Bodo Sperlein as Creative Director. Loewe are responsible for the world's first electronic film transmission made in 1931. As part of Bodo's direction for the eminent brand, Bodo and his studio have reinvigorated Loewe's creative brand language by composing new advertising campaigns, imagery and products. Loewe Bild 9 and Klang 9 are the first in a series of designs he produced for Loewe that highlights his distinctive collaboration with the Munich and Kronach based company. Bild 9 is a linear sculptural range that draws inspiration from minimalist pictorial line and perspective sculpture. In December 2017, Bodo stepped down from the role of Creative Director in order to focus on other projects and collaborations. He continues to provide creative consultancy for Loewe.
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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