Homegirl London pays homage to Aditi Studios. Makers of super stylish industrial lights. Owner Robert Wheeldon has been involved with lighting through his studies and film making career. He’s passionate about lighting; how it works, how it’s made, how it looks and the effects it has on people and their surroundings. So it’s no wonder he makes the most amazing collection of lights. I caught up with Robert to find out a little more about his love for lights …
Q: What’s your background?
A: I studied Art, Sculpture, Photography and Ceramics at different stages of my life and my family are all involved in the same field to some degree. Later, I worked in film making so I’ve spent a great deal of my life using light as a tool to tell stories.
Q: Tell me more about your love for lighting.
A: While working on a film I heard someone say ‘a movie without lighting … is radio.’ This sums up how I feel and like to think that the lights I make have real substance and purpose. I find the effect light has on objects, rooms and surroundings very interesting and at first I found lighting difficult to understand. When I studied photography I gradually started to learn more about lighting and working on film sets under the guidance of a master electrician helped me discover more.
Q: Why start a business?
A: I felt it was time to begin putting things out into the world and tie the many paths I have travelled together.
Q: Describe your design style.
A: Industrial chic.
Q: Tell me about your lighting range.
A: The I/O, pronounced ‘eye-oh’ was our first hand-thrown pendant. The style is mid-century, Scandinavian inspired. It has a textural interior and is crafted using rich, traditional stoneware which is hand-hewn by artisans and finished in our own glaze.
I/O, £435
The Flying Scotsman is a large classic downlighter made from hand-sculpted ceramic. It’s a vintage style light inspired by the original vitreous enamelled pressed steel downlighter you’d often see in industrial settings and also along Britain’s railways.
The Flying Scotsman, £570
The Laerdal is a pendant light with clean Scandinavian inspired lines and the exterior is made from volcanic basalt. It provides a subtle and flattering soft light which bounces off the deeply glazed white and textured interior.
Laerdal, £465
Q: Tell me about your manufacturing processes.
A: All the lights are designed, hand-sculpted, worked and decorated by the artist using traditional methods. I use sustainable production processes which have a minimum impact on the environment.
Q: Where are you based and why?
A: Aditi Studios is based in the Peak District of England. I was born here and returned when I decided to start the studios. I find this location an inspiring place to work; I can walk or cycle to the office and I’ve never once been stuck in traffic on the way to work.
Q: What’s coming up for the rest of 2013?
A: The new pieces will involve vintage blues and greens from base oxides … and some gold.
If you love these lights as much as I do then check out the website Aditi Studios. Credits: text by Homegirl London, images courtesy of Aditi Studios, special thanks to Robert Wheeldon.
