SPRING
2004
Jorg
Hysek
What is it that makes design appealing,
that makes you want to own a product and that gives you satisfaction just
looking at it? There are many qualities which go into outstanding design,
but I believe the most important one is vision, says Jorg Hysek.
Jorg Hysek, watch designer, product
designer and creative artist, was born in East Berlin in 1953 and moved to
Switzerland in 1960. He originally trained as a painter and sculptor, although
today he is probably better known as a prolific product designer who makes
every effort to push his work far beyond normal constraints. His style is
both refined and technically sophisticated.
‘My two key principles are that objects should feel as good as they
look and that the most up-to-date materials and manufacturing techniques should
be used. For me the test of a watch design is whether you recognize it immediately.
The great watches all have this in common, and this is what I have tried to
achieve in my designs,’ confirms Jorg Hysek.
Every curve, every contour, is carefully
studied in order to achieve a product with a balanced shape and perfect proportions.
Natural ergonomics make his designs pleasurable both to wear and to use. Always
placing technique at the service of art, typical of his approach is the famous
Hysek pen clip. ‘It is the marriage of form and function that truly
inspires my work.
In honor of Antiquorum’s 30th
anniversary, Jorg Hysek has created a special watch, the Thirty Thirty, which
will be presented for auction at Antiquorum’s 24 – 25 April 2004
sale which will take place at the Noga Hilton in Geneva.
Twenty large Jorg Hysek paintings will
also be in the sale. These vibrant paintings will be featured at the sale’s
preview exhibition, which will run from the 21st April 2004, and will also
be held at the Noga Hilton in Geneva.
There is nothing extraneous in my designs – every element must make
a statement. Take the pen clip, there is no question that the pen clip serves
a useful purpose, but when you’re writing the clip affects the balance
and feel of the instrument. So why not separate the clip and the pen? Make
it not just an afterthought, but part of something that makes its own statement?
So I put the clip on the pen’s leather holder.’
Watch designs – inspired by his travels
One of the most sought-after horological
designers in the world, Jorg Hysek takes his inspiration from his travels,
particularly from his journeys in the desert and experiences sailing the oceans
of the world. As a watch designer his first opportunity came from Rolex, where
he worked in the design department. Later he was awarded the Grand Prix de
Genève for a cuff watch he designed for Vacheron Constantin and a year
later he gained the Jury’s Mention for a pocket watch he designed for
Jean Lassale.
This was soon followed by commissions
from Cartier and Ebel. For Tiffany & Co. he created Tesoro, followed by
the Streamerica line of watches and accessories. Then came Marine for Breguet,
Kirium for Tag Heuer, Shanta for Ebel, and AD 2000 for Dunhill.
His watches, he says, reflect the proportions
and relationships between natural elements. ‘AD 2000 had to be a bridge
to the new millennium. For example, the molded rubber strap, with its preformed
curve that adapts to fit all wrists, was a technical nightmare, yet in the
end, I held in my hands the only object that I could accept: it fulfilled
my vision, the expression of the inner me.’
Of his many projects over the years, none has
been so intense as the creation of his own watch line. ‘After much thought
and many sketches,’ says Jorg Hysek, ‘I had several starting points.
One for example was the numbering on the face. Almost every watch has some
kind of variation on the theme of 12, 3, 6, and 9.
But why hadn’t anyone used
1, 5, 7, and 11? I immediately saw that it would alter the balance of the
dial while at the same time providing a pleasant visual surprise. I also saw
that one of my favorite motifs, the little bridge, could serve as a starting
point for the case, and, when repeated in the design of the hands and the
sturdy buckle, this motif brought a cohesion to the whole design. From small
ideas the watch began to take shape.’
Dynamic paintings
Jorg Hysek always interprets his product
designs in vivid paintings which depict the inspiration for each piece. His
work is energetic and his paintings reflect this energy.
They speak of movement, vast open spaces, water, light, sunbursts, and the
refraction of light on water. Vibrant in color and technique, they generally
also depict the original concept and contain an image of the piece being created.
