Collection by Diana Budds
Tendence 2012 at Messe Frankfurt: Anne Boenisch
Judging from economic news of late, the one word most associated with Germany is "austerity." However, at Tendence, the home trends show taking place August 24–28 in Frankfurt, the young designers are taking a more playful and less severe tack with a new crop of wares that are interactive, instructive, or just plain intriguing to the eye. One such up and comer is Anne Boenisch, who exhibited her designs for lighting, furniture, and accessories in the Talents section of the fair. We trace the evolution of her work in this slideshow.
Boenisch was a carpenter before she went to school for product design. In all of her pieces, the expert hand of craft is evident in extra touches, mechanics of the objects, and the way in which they're put together. The Plissee sideboard (2012) is made from oiled oak and features a pleated polyester screen on a curved track (something that takes a lot of precise measuring to ensure it moves smoothly). A hot-pink gradient adds a playful color note and the detailing extends all around the piece, making it suitable as a room divider.
The Karat lamp (2011) is made from folded sheets of anodized and varnished aluminum connected with glass plates that allow diffused light to shine though the seams. While we've seen a flurry of geometrically-inclined and brass-hued pieces recently, we can't help but admire the complex construction of the shade.
The Brace baskets and trays (2011) feature a tessellation of small and large rectangles for their sides.
The LED-illuminated Astral lamp (2010) is part kinetic sculpture, part pendant light. The two rings containing the bulbs can be brought closer together, or moved further apart.
Continuing the theme of kinetic pieces, the collapsible Moment stool and table series is both attractive and practical: the supportive stainless-steel frame looks vaguely Eamesian and we like that it can be folded flat for easy stowing.
With the MyLady and MyLord hanger sets (2007), Boenisch created pieces that work with the needs of womens' and mens' clothing. The womens' set is designed to hang shirts, undergarments, high-heeled shoes, and a small jacket. These early pieces are somewhat gimmicky, but there's a clear attempt to problem solve through improving an existing object—a laudable effort produced five years prior to her Plissee sideboard released this year. We eagerly await to see what Boenisch produces in the next five years (and next season, even!).
The mens' set is designed to hold coats, neckties, shoes (note the wider space to accomodate mens' sizing), shirts, and pants.