FLOWER POWER

Tay himself took an interest in Murakami’s work, explaining, “I first met Murakami in 2009 when he was interested in identifying ways in which he could use the wristwatch as a medium to express his art.

- JONATHAN HO

VISIT MALMAISON AT KNIGHTSBRIDGE or his offices in Tong Building and one will undoubtedly discover that horology and art are twin passions of Michael Tay, CEO of The Hour Glass Singapore. Hence, it was with little surprise that during an interview with Takashi Murakami in the artistic The Standard, High Line hotel nestled in the heart of New York’s Meatpacking district, that the jovial artist (with a dark side – we’ll get to that later) explained Mr. Tay’s involvement in encouraging him to say yes to a collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Hublot.

Nothing eventuated from it but we maintained contact and as an art collector himself, I appreciated his views on other artists. When discussing with Ricardo Guadalupe [Hublot CEO] and Miwa Sakai [Asia Pacific Regional Director at Hublot, Japan] the prospective roster of artists that Hublot could collaborate with, his name was put forward and the rest as we know it is history.”

Oriental yet occidental, Murakami is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of his generation and an undeniable impact on the world of contemporary art. His blend of traditional Japanese art and contemporary pop culture has inspired countless artists and designers, and his unique vision has helped to shape the aesthetic of the 21st century. One of the most iconic aspects of Murakami’s art is his use of “Superflat” theory, a term he coined to describe the flattened, two-dimensional quality of traditional Japanese art – exemplified by the flat, simplified shapes and bold, graphic lines that give his works a highly stylised, almost cartoon-like quality.