support for Japan

2011.3.11 2:46 P.M.
11, March 2011, Japan sustained its largest, 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami.
The world has reacted with people, companies & foundations looking for ways to lend a supporting hand.
The staff and family of Audemars Piguet, North America & Latin America
extends its deepest sympathies to the people of Japan
and the victims of the 11, March 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami.
We offer our heartfelt condolences to the survivors and their relatives.
We wish them safety, strength and healing as they face challenges ahead.
To our extended family, we send you our thoughts, prayers and our more profound hope.
“The aim of art is not to represent the outward appearance
of things, but their inward significance” — Aristotle
CLOCK
01
ARTIST MESSAGE
The crane is a highly symbolic bird in many cultures. In Japan, the Tancho
(the Japanese crane) is regarded as a majestic and elegant bird, considered as a
symbol of hope, happiness and longevity.
BIOGRAPHY
Octavio Garcia born July 31st 1968 in Chicago Illinois, son of Mexican
immigrants, studied industrial Design at Art Center College of Design in La Tour
des Peilz Switzerland graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial
Design. After 3 years of freelance design work, Garcia joined Omega where he
designed various Collections.
In 2003, he joined Audemars Piguet as Design Manager where he developed
an internal design team that was responsible for time pieces such as the Royal
Oak OffShore Juan Pablo Montoya, the Millenary Cabinet no. 5 and the Jules
Audemars Equation of Time.
Recently promoted to Chief Artistic Officer he now oversees product and visual
identity for Audemars Piguet.
Octavio Garcia
Chief Artistic Officer, Audemars Piguet
CLOCK
02
ARTIST MESSAGE
We designed a heart to remind of the Japanese traditional color, but in the shape
of Love for the Japanese people.
We used genuine Mediterranean red coral, which is symbol of hope and good
luck in the Italian tradition and in the Japanese one as well. Both our families
have had close ties to Japan since the beginning of the XIX Century, trading
coral between Europe and Japan. This genuine coral signifies our emotional
bond with Japan, and the sincere sentiments of hope!
Ganbare Nippon!
BIOGRAPHY
Roberto Faraone Mennella and Amedeo Scognamiglio, the award winning
Design Team behind FARAONE MENNELLA by RFMAS, draw inspiration for
their acclaimed jewelry environment of their upbringing, and the eclectic
energy fueling New York City’s pop culture and Fashion society. Each creation
is projected to the future, involuntarily anticipating new trends, while always
embracing never-fading classical beauty. From the “The Classics” jewels to
wear every day to the most exceptional one-of-a-kind “Couture” pieces, Faraone
Mennella always knows how to surprise and make a statement.
In Spring 2001, Amedeo and Roberto revolutionized the luxury world, bringing
to NYC a new concept of jewelry: with fresh, contemporary and un-conditioned
approach, the young Italian designers brought “Fine Jewels” out and away from
their velvety boxes on gorgeous women in their every day life. A jewel, in their
mind, had to be adornment, joy of life, an unforgettable moment.
Their work has adorned celebrities like Ivana Trump and Sarah Jessica Parker
and has been created for movies like “Devil Wears Prada” and “Sex and the City.”
www.faraonemennella.com
Roberto Faraone Mennella &
Amedeo Scognamiglio
Faraone Mennella by R.F.M.A.S.
CLOCK
03
ARTIST MESSAGE
David uses art as the bond that links three generations of Japanese ancestry. He
places family above everything in life, and defines himself as both father and son.
Yasuko, David’s mother, is a skilled teacher of Ikebana flower arranging, trained in
the Sogetsu school. It was only in his early adult life that he was able to understand
the thought provoking approach his mother took to natural elements to create art,
which has influenced the foreground.
Nayiri, David’s daughter, is incredibly talented, and creative, as many 5 year old’s
are. Her light hearted, approach to art is an inspiration. David attempts to display
water as a restoration of Japan’s beauty, rather than a means of destruction through
the backdrop, which is the water painting of his daughter.
David composed with a limited color palette, giving each element a single tone, so
that each element could clearly be defined independently, but are equally complementary. David asked Yasuko to watch over his kanji characters, ‘Sansei Dai’ just as
she did in his youth.
“Sansei Dai” is a focus on family, nature and positive energy created. Japan is in
need of healing. Three generations of Japanese ancestry, no matter how far away, can
come together and form something unique and beautiful, is David’s foundation. Family bond is forever, and the strength of the Japanese spirit will make it whole again.
BIOGRAPHY
David Barton is a two-time Emmy Award winning designer, currently focusing on
Broadcast Motion Graphics. He has designed for a number of corporate and small
business clients in various mediums including broadcast design and animation, web
design, print and marketing design, branding, etc. He is currently employed at NBC
Sports and Olympics in New York City as the Senior Lead Designer.
www.davidbartondesign.com
David Barton
Broadcast Motion Graphic Designer
CLOCK
04
ARTIST MESSAGE
The clock face is a representation of Japan’s resilience and strength in the face
of tragedy.
The rough landscape on the right hand side of the clock represents the
earthquake and tsunami and the red represents the loss of lives that occurred
on March 11th, thus it is on the 11 marker.
The dichotomy of tragedy; the symbolic cherry blossom represents the beauty of
Japan’s rebirth, resilience and growth from the chaos of March 11th.
BIOGRAPHY
Damian Park creates art that is influenced by street art and scenes throughout
the world. He mainly creates art as a hobby and primarily uses photography,
acrylic and spray paint as his mediums. He is self taught and his work has
been described as dark and abstract yet uplifting. His art generally represents
a unique moment in time or history that has had a great impact on society. He
was honored to be chosen for this project as he wanted to show the hardships
that Japan has gone through recently, but at the same time show the beauty of
the people that will unite during these hardships.
Damian Park graduated from New York University with Bachelor of Science
degree and currently works in the financial markets as a trader.
Damian Park
Financial Market Trader
CLOCK
05
ARTIST MESSAGE
The message of the clock I painted is that turbulence makes history as a second
hand marks time. Acute and persuasive, though forever servile to the resolute
and enduring spirit that is Japan.
I imagined the hands and their axis to be a point of suspension for Japan during
these tenuous times, and while the turbulence roared around them, they were
solidly insulated by the character of their people.
BIOGRAPHY
Twenty years ago, as an art teacher for Severely Emotionally Disturbed children
in Oakland, California, Howard was inspired to start painting. He has shown
work in Washington, D.C., several galleries in California, and in Florence, Italy.
His abstract works are in many private homes from San Antonio, Texas to
Sarasota, Florida to Paris, France. Although painting conjures a linguistic
interpretation of the work, Howard paints with the intention of clearing the
words for a non-verbal, sensory-based communication to occur.
Howard serves as the moderator for the Audemars Piguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre
discussion forums on TimeZone. Howard has worked as a professional drummer,
is a certified Harley-Davidson mechanic, a cycling fanatic, and a writer of
screen plays during free time.
He has degrees in English and French from UC Berkeley, as well as a diploma
from the University of Paris/Sorbonne.
www.timezone.com
Howard Parr
Moderator, TimeZone Audemars Piguet & Jaeger-LeCoultre
CLOCK
06
ARTIST MESSAGE
The Tanabata festival is the annual star festival held in Japan. It is in this spirit of
wishing and hope that a popular Tanabata custom is to write one’s wishes on a piece
of paper, and hang that piece of paper on a specially erected bamboo tree, in the
hope that the wishes become true.
When my father, Dr. Thomas Mao, presented this monumental project to my sister
Vivien and me, we immediately knew that we wanted to design this special wall
clock with the image of hope and wishes. Not only were we representing ThePuristS’ name, we were also in charge of relaying the prayers of the community. After
March 11th, Japan has been the subject of hope and prayers around the world. We
hope that by painting this scene on this clock, we will be able to remind people of
the constant hope that is alive for Japan’s well being.
BIOGRAPHY
Thomas Mao, with an academic background in Economics, Business Management,
and Psychology, has had a lifelong interest in timepieces ever since he bought a
chronograph with his own money, advertised in the back pages of a comic book,
nearly 40 years ago.
A globally recognized authority on timepieces and the timepiece industry, Dr. Mao
is frequently asked to address public and private audiences on the subject. What
makes Dr. Mao’s perspectives so sought after and respected is an unparalleled level
of objectivity, independence, and insight - he calls it as he sees it, while respectful of
the industry and products he has such a demonstrated passion and love for.
Collectors from around the world have furthered their interest and knowledge of
haute horlogerie from regular visits to ThePuristS.com, which he founded in 1997.
ThePuristS.com started first as a blog, then evolved into a community site in 2001,
featuring the first brand forum dedicated to Audemars Piguet. Today he continues
to personally moderate the original AP forum on ThePuristS, drawing on his deep
knowledge of the brand from over 30 years of collecting.
www.thepurists.com
Dr. Thomas Mao
Alexandria & Vivien Mao
Founder, The PuristS
CLOCK
Yasuyoshi Botan
07
Artist
ARTIST MESSAGE
A small world unfolds within a clock.
When, on occasion, we catch a glimpse of this world,
the world in which we dwell seems to move very slowly,
inspiring us to consider what the future might hold.
And as the hands of the clock continue turning,
we wonder who might be watching them.
Translation: Christopher Stephens
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Osaka in 1971. Upon graduating from School of Visual Arts in New
York, Botan moved to Tokyo. He employs a wide range of media including
painting, installation, and performance to express his unique vision.
Botan sees what exists between humanity, object and language. He breaks a
“situation” into fragments and rearranges the pieces within his paintings, where
the lines and points outline the form and the paint represents the material; his
interpretation of the “situation” is reproduced by these elements.
CLOCK
Yukio Fujimoto
08
Artist
ARTIST MESSAGE
a day in the life
Both cruel and wonderful things occur every day of our lives.
All things are born, and then die, on a single day.
Perhaps this is the same as the passage of time.
Translation: Christopher Stephens
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Nagoya in 1950. Currently resides in Osaka and works in Kobe. BFA in
Musicology, Osaka University of Arts.
Fujimoto has been producing performance arts and installations employing
electronics since the 70’s. He works with sound, which has no physical, tactile
presence. His work questions the viewers what hearing is, what seeing is, and
how the two different inputs become one perception within the viewer’s mind.
Fujimoto exhibited at Venice Biennale in 2001 and 2007.
Special Thanks
Benjamin Famiglietti
Hisakata Matsuki
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
I remember watching the news on March 11th and feeling not only for
the friends I had in Japan, but for everyone affected. Just because the
initial tragedy is over and the media coverage has simmered doesn’t
mean the disaster is done. Spending most of my time working in
commercial production, it’s a breath of fresh air work on something
so meaningful and important. I am truly thankful.
The disaster that occurred on March 11th, and its ongoing
repercussions, hit me deeply as all of my family are located in Japan. BIOGRAPHY
Benjamin Famiglietti graduated from the Savannah College of
Art and Design with a BFA in Film and Television. He has since
been involved in a variety of different productions and projects,
with titles ranging from writer and director, to photographer and
camera assistant. He currently works freelance in New York City
and Boston.
The opportunity to work with two of my closest friends on this
project and seeing their artistic vision realized on ‘canvas’ has been
uplifting and healing experience.
While the initial tragedy is over, the impact of this disaster will
last generations and I want to personally thank Audemars Piguet
for working to ensure that the world does not forget about what
happened in Japan and will continue to send their resources,
thoughts and prayers to help heal Japan. This amazing project
will undoubtedly shine on a ray of hope for the people of Japan and
serve as a reminder of how precious and fragile life truly is, as it
can all change in a split second.
BIOGRAPHY
Hisakata Matsuki is a Japanese-American living in New York. His
family roots can be traced to Michizane Sugawara in 9th Century
Japan. Being raised in Himeji, Japan and Queens, New York allowed
Hisakata to experience both cultures fully. His yearly trips to
Japan to visit his family continue to deepen the connection he feels
to his ancestral home. He graduated from Polytechnic University
with a Bachelor of Science and is currently in Web Development.
Chisa Yagi
Mitsue Yagi
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
I experienced the 1995 Kobe earthquake as a girl in Osaka. As a
woman living now in New York, the earthquake and tsunami that
hit Japan on March 11th was a disaster unfolding so far away; yet
so close.
I am deeply honored to be able to participate in this project for Japan.
Art transcends boundaries, uniting the world. As a message of hope,
I present the work of two Japanese artists, Yasuyoshi Botan and
Yukio Fujimoto. Help comes in a variety of forms, and I hope that
these clocks will provide a means of support for those who have
suffered this horrific disaster.
The initial shock and chaos has passed, what comes next is to take
an action to offer help and support for Japan. But how? Although
indirectly, time heal strength project has given me a chance to do
something for the people who’s lives are greatly affected by the
earthquake. I had the opportunity to witness this project from its
beginning to the amazing transformation of the clocks becoming a
strong body of art. I am truly honored to be involved in the project.
BIOGRAPHY
Chisa Yagi was born and raised in Japan. She moved to the States
after graduating high school to join her family in Connecticut. She
holds a BFA in Fine Arts from Purchase College, SUNY and an MFA
in Design from Yale University. She currently works as a senior
designer in a post production house in New York City.
BIOGRAPHY
Mitsue Yagi is the Director of ARTCOURT Gallery in Osaka, Japan.
www.artcourtgallery.com
time heal strength project was made possible independently by
staff of Audemars Piguet, North America & Latin America and the
artists & supporters that have volunteered their time, resources
and hopes in the name of Japan.
8 Artists:
Octavio Garcia
Faraone Mennella by R.F.M.A.S.
David Barton
Damian Park
Thomas Mao, Alexandria & Vivien Mao
Howard Parr
Yasuyoshi Botan
Yukio Fujimoto
Artist Coordination:
Hisakata Matsuki, Mitsue Yagi
Graphic Design:
Chisa Yagi
Photography:
Benjamin Famiglietti
©2011 Audemars Piguet, North America & Latin America