KPM Berlin is celebrating the 65th birthday of the Sandman and, together with rbb media, has developed a special edition of the cult figure, limited to 65 pieces, which was invented by Gerhard Behrendt and has been flickering across the screen since 1959. The result: a handmade porcelain adaptation with the unmistakable goatee by Thomas Wenzel. In an interview, the KPM chief designer tells us everything about the creation of the iconic porcelain figure.

The Sandman is not just playful and childlike, he is also an iconic figure that manages to touch and unite people across generations. I am 61 years old, almost as old as the Sandman himself; when I was a child, he even united us across the East-West German borders. A great example of how children can dissolve boundaries. He gave families across Germany orientation and structure - a moment of calm and composure, and that remains unchanged to this day.

The handwork that goes into the scenery and the figures naturally fits in with the DNA of our factory. The Sandman, just like us, has retained its original character in the age of digitalization. The stop-motion process makes the craftsmanship, the materiality and the movement sequences visible to children - they immediately understand the trick behind it. An alternative to digitally produced children's programs - which today seem very generic. At KPM Berlin, we too are constantly thinking about what must be preserved. This is our unique selling point - and in today's fast-moving world it is deceleration and pure luxury.

It was important to me not to distort the original beyond recognition. I wanted to give form to the collective feeling and to convey the gestures, the movement and the turning of the head in porcelain. Nevertheless, it should not just be a copy of the original. That is why I decided to gold-plate the entire sculpture. First of all, this is an homage to the 65th anniversary of the Sandman. On the other hand, it also turns the Sandman into an art object. The complete gold-plating turns the figure into a mirror that reflects the room. This gives the figure its own physicality, or rather, creates an alienation that encourages the viewer to constantly re-apprehend the surface and contours, which never really succeeds. But it doesn't have to, because the figure is anchored in the collective memory through its iconic character. At the same time, it remains alive and always appears new in the context of the room.

The emotional connection I have with the Sandman is unique for me in my 30-year career. And all the manufacturers felt the same way - a shared feeling of connection that brings back the carefree moments of childhood brought a smile to all of our inner canvases as we worked on it.

ATTENTION: Unfortunately sold out! The Sandman made of porcelain, hand-painted with 24 carat gold, costs around 1,980 euros, click here to go to the online shop.