I find organic shapes with slight imperfections incredibly inspiring and look to surfaces with texture, such as those found in nature. The great outdoors offers much inspiration, from the surface of bark to a weathered brick wall. I also look to 1920s artists such as Ivon Hitchens, with his beautiful, thick brushstrokes, and Alberto Giacometti, whose textured bronze sculptures are divine. My work shows a lot of texture, which I enhance by applying several layers of patina to highlight the imperfections.
There are so many fabulous creators I admire. One of my favourite contemporary designers is India Mahdavi – her colourful works add so much interest and playful character to interiors. Another designer I admire hugely is Anni Albers. Her woven textiles are not only perfectly balanced with her use of colour but are also works of art.
My favourite piece of design in my home has to be the room divider I made a couple of years ago. It features all my signature components, and it is functional as well as being a piece of art. I chose colours for this piece that were complementary to my interiors, using a mixture of opaque and translucent materials. I find parallels between colour and music, as they both possess a certain harmony and rhythm. The colours in this design just seem to sing to me. The design I most covet is a console table by Diego Giacometti named ‘Homage à Bocklin’ because of its simplicity, elegance and storytelling element.
Green and yellow are the colours that inspire my work: green for its link to nature, and yellow for the brightness and happiness it provides. Both are so uplifting. All my designs use my signature components in various combinations with differing colours, textures and patinas. The sculpted shapes have a pigment mixed into the bio-resin and therefore come out differently every time. It is nearly impossible to make the same hue again, making each piece one-of-a-kind. My design style is contemporary, and every work has a functional element.
When it comes to my design process I always have my sketchbook with me – each piece of work starts with a drawing. I can’t tell you how many I go through. Once I’m happy with these ideas in 2D form, I will sculpt a clay master to check the proportions and then move on to mould the final piece. Good design is very personal. For me, I enjoy colour and texture with functionality. For someone else, it could be completely different – that is what makes design so individual.
One of my forthcoming projects, launching this summer, is a collaboration with Fine Cell Work on soft furnishings. This will be my first time working with fabric. I am enjoying it immensely and looking forward to exploring the medium more deeply.
Details: margitwittig.com
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