Berndt Schweizer & Irene Orecher

MoMeArt

Multimedia sculptor

When tiny tiles adorn metal

Berndt and Irene create unique shapes with metal and mosaic
They work with specialists from different fields to bring to life extraordinary projects
Finding like-minded artists to collaborate with is very important to them

Blacksmith Berndt Schweizer and mosaic maker Irene Orecher have lived and worked together since 2006. They combine their passions to create unique metal and mosaic artworks. At 18, Berndt studied metalworking at the Aachen University of Applied Sciences. “I owe my practice to my professor, Fritz Ulrich, who took me under his wing because he believed in my talent,” he says. In his mid-20s, Berndt opened his own workshop in an abandoned cement factory in Peißenberg, where he still works to this day. Irene, who works with ancient mosaic techniques and materials, works with Berndt on numerous renovation and creative projects. "Although my true passion lies in sculpture, I create pieces from special cement, adorn them with mosaics and develop their colour schemes using natural pigments," Irene says. She is also highly skilled in traditional floor-laying techniques. "What unites us is our independence from contemporary art trends and our commitment to craftsmanship as the foundation of artistic expression," the duo says.

Interview

What exactly do you do?: We create mosaic art, metalwork, sculptures and paintings. Our unusual combinations of materials and techniques, together with close collaborations with specialists from various fields, allow us to create bespoke solutions for extraordinary commissions – from concept to design, to on-site installation.
How is your work distinguished from others?: For each client, we design with unique combinations of bronze, stainless steel, titanium and other materials, often in combination with mosaics made from various materials, mostly Murano glass. Our strength lies in the fusion of metal and mosaic, a distinctive approach that has attracted considerable attention within the art world.
What do people usually not know about your work?: Almost everything. Even colleagues often do not understand or recognise the techniques we use to create a piece. We regularly spend time explaining how our objects are made.
Do you have any advice for artists interested in your crafts?: Building connections in the field you are interested in is very important and will help you join forces with like-minded people. For forging, start by working for a standard metal construction company to learn the basics of the craft. If you have artistic talent, apply to a design school. We always have interns working in our workshop!

Berndt Schweizer & Irene Orecher are master artisans: they began their career in 1960 and they started teaching in 2006