Grand Seiko announced recently that their watches are to be exhibited at the Milan Design Week for the first time ever. The Milan Design Week is a exhibition which lasts 5 days starting on Tuesday, April 17 and drawing to a close on Sunday, April 22.
The theme of this years exhibition is ‘THE FLOW OF TIME’ and will feature an installation which showcases Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive movement. This is the brands new innovative and truly unique mechanism which is characterised by extremely high precision. Grand Seiko have enlisted the assistance of two incredibly creative Japanese artists who have combined their incredible talents together to bring this beautiful and revolutionary idea of Spring Drive to life in the form of an installation that dramatises “THE FLOW OF TIME”.
Contents Of The Exhibition / Creator Profiles
Approach to TIME.
TAKT PROJECT
The TAKT art installation showcases the exploded diagram view of the intricate spring drive, this incredible movement has pushed the boundaries or horology and managed to reach an entirely new dimension of timekeeping. One that makes you feel the transience of time, approaching the essence of time.
The installation consists of twelve completely unique shapes spread out in the art space, each of these acrylic objects contains parts from the Grand Seiko Spring Drive watch movement and every one has been sealed locking the delicate parts inside.
As you look into the transparent objects you can see the intricate small parts twinkling in the low purple lighting around the studio, each set of pieces is framed by the scenery which enables you to truly feel the watch movement as it approaching the essence of time.
Inside the twelve objects are scattered small lights which imply the existence of sparks of electricity that has been generated by the parts themselves.
It is an art installation in which you can feel Grand Seiko’s thought just by looking into it.
Direction/Design: TAKT PROJECT
CG Direction/Design: Shingo Abe
Movie: Daisuke Ohki
TAKT PROJECT Design Studio
Established in 2013, with Satoshi Yoshiizumi as representative. Under the motto “DESIGN THINK + DO TANK,” the studio has undertaken various projects seeking to “create other possibilities” through design. It has conducted experimental independent research projects and presented the results at the Milan Design Week, DesignMiami/, Maison & Objet Paris, Hong Kong M+, and other domestic and international art museums and design events. It collaborates with various clients, taking a unique approach which maximizes the role of design in projects based on its research findings.
http://www.taktproject.com/
Kizamu / Nagareru
Shingo Abe
The trail of the sun draws an arch in the sky; the history of timepieces began by “ticking” this natural arching “movement” which has always been continuous. Time transformed from what used to “flow” to something that “ticks.” In their pursuit for better performance, watches demonstrated a higher-precision with the “ticking” of time.
The Spring Drive upgraded the movement of the second hand to be a unique and smooth glide motion and natural, which makes us feel the “flowing” of time, just like a falling raindrop, leaves falling to the ground and stars orbiting in the night sky.
This visual work captures the contrast between the “ticking time” and “flowing time”.
