ATHENS, 27 June — A unique event caught the attention of the general public here last week. The event was organized by the Cultural Olympiad and was supported by the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games. The atmosphere was perfect for this special occasion. Lining the newly renovated pedestrian promenade of the richly historical Dionissiou Areopagitou, a modern foreground was set amid antiquity. All this was for a Swatch happening worthy of public exhibition, Kaleidoskope.
Prof. Evangelos Venizelos, minister for culture of the Hellenic republic, the guest of honor, and Nicolas G. Hayek, chairman of the board of the Swiss Swatch Group, were the key personalities to take part in the event.
Taking on the task of creating art for a world stage was the challenge Swatch offered an invited list of "artists" in the first phase. Their canvas was a kit containing a sport object and watch parts; their imagination was their own. In the next phase the same materials were offered — lots of canvas, buckets of art supplies and an eclectic ensemble of talent. In the third phase was kaleidoscope, the culmination of these one-of-a-kind works of art exhibited "live" here.
More than 100 persons chosen by Swatch to participate and apply their individual artistic impressions included various Greek and Olympic dignitaries among the many art, fashion and technology designers, and sport celebrities who came from Austria, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United States, aside from Switzerland.
They included Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, Dr. Jacques Rogge, Shaquille O’Neal, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Luca Trazzi, No Angels, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Bibi & Gutjahr, Ottavio Missoni, Yasuhiro Mihara, Matthias Winkler, Manuel Estiarte, Claude Nobs, Alessandro Mendini, Plumcake, Mimmo Rotella, Ken Done, Diana Bianchedi, Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe, Melinda Looi, Alex Popov and Vivienne Westwood.
American Olympic athlete Carl Lewis was among the star attractions at the event, which also had the presence of Jr. Hayek.
Students present represented some prestigious international design schools: Escuela De Arte No. 4, Spain and Istituto Europeo Di Design (IED ARTI VISIVE), Italy. Members of "Swatch The Club International" were also there to experience the excitement.
This multiform art portfolio — a visual explosion of creativity — contributed to the unquenchable artistic flair and unique link Swatch continues to create via its relationship to timing, sports, art and culture.
"Kaleidoskope, a constantly changing scene with an exciting mix of materials, objects images and color, unites the diverse beauty that results from the kaleidoscope of minds and the genius of Swatch," said Nicolas G. Hayek, chairman of the board of the Swatch Group.