Photo: Fred Winkler
How do you use light in your home, when you are the founder of the world-famous brand DCW éditions? We had a chat with the French, charismatic Fred Winkler, who described how he decorates with light and how he uses it to balance his life.
What does light mean to you?
If you could have music attached to the design, that would be great. I'll give you this piece:
"Daylight strengthens energy, action is queen. When night comes as Ben E.King, Otis Reding, Tracy Chapman sing: Stand by me."
The night could have written this song to the light. Light is the heart of the soul that never dies. Design for lighting? Let's design our lives! Light is tender generosity. Light brings us together.
Foto: DCW Editions ORG Wall Lamp 1050
"Products make us poorer, real objects talk to us!"
When I see some white cold light, I imagine myself as a vegetable forgotten in a refrigerator! What a shame! Nothing more than the candle hidden in the church. Nothing more magical than moonlight on the snow. By creating light, I try to reach this point where you open your body and spirit, clear of the night secrets.
The world of lighting is the most talkative in "les arts décoratifs", it shows where we live, who we are, the environments that we cross. Lamps open up your hidden ways, when products meet bottomless wells. Products make us poorer, real objects talk to us.
What do you find particularly interesting about working with designer lighting?
When a designer asks me: What do you need? I know we can't work together. So many amazing lamps have been made over the centuries. Why more?
Every lamp we have released since the beginning has roots in the past, made today to be sent in the future. Some lamps come from known or totally unknown people, who sit together.
No matter what! Everyone has their own story to tell. No one is boring in the team. Strong characters with a deep and thick soul. That's why their lamps are interesting.
Good lighting must last a lifetime
Photo: DCW Editions Respiro 1200 Pendant
What considerations do you have about the interplay between aesthetics and technical superiority, when it comes to designer lighting?
Aesthetics are here to serve the magic of light. The designers we work with know exactly what they want to live, with the light they create. Stories, images, words, emotions, smells, sounds and shared music help us bring the source of the idea forward. In the field of soul lighting, "technical" is not an issue. If we can fly to the moon, we can do anything in lighting!
In our latest lamp, called La Lampe Frechin (designed by Jean-Louis Frechin), we tried to capture the sunbeam. If chaos will one day affect the sun, can we keep a ray of sunshine alive? Let's discover it. You don't turn it off at night, just like when I was a child: "Mom, I promise you, I will sleep ... But leave the light on, just a little while!"
Throughout your day, when is light and design most important for you?
There are 2 important moments. When the natural light is present, we cannot see the light precisely. You cannot see what you perceive.
Then, you turn on your light to welcome the night. And then in the morning, when we come out of impossible adventures, how can we get into the real world? We do not have our mother's arms to welcome us. Thus, the first morning light is important. Just to say, "Hey, welcome home".
Light brings us together, welcomes us and shows who we are
"The quality of light is the scent of the spirit and the taste of the environment. In Paris, half the city is lit by awful urban white LED's! You're ready to go to hell! When you arrive at the Marais, you feel good and you feel welcome with the warm lighting.
When you look at a building, in some occasions you say: We are lucky, we are not invited!
Some other places, you would very much like to go inside. The light invites you in and invites you to share."
"The first morning light is important. Just to say:
Hi, welcome home"
How does one use and decorate their home in the best way, with light?
"It is rare to have an unforgettable memory of a hamburger. But you remember a dish or an apple taken from the tree ... and you go back and reminisce in your emotions.
When I am in front of lights, some attract me, some lights invite me in.
Never buy something you are not connected to. Lighting must last a lifetime. By chance, we move into our own story. We can change our perspectives on life. So we take different paths.
I'm always sad to look upon the streets: lights, chairs, shelves ... abandoned. They have not been wanted, never loved. What a waste of ... Of what? Of everything: time, money, false desires - you can and must respect your past. Products make us poorer, items talk to us!
Sorry, I'm not answering your questions..."
Foto: DCW Editions AARO SW Wall Lamp
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