Local artist designs Tag Heuer box for charity auction piece

8 Sep 2011

Tag Heuer Switzerland commissioned South African artist Paul du Toit to paint the box of the one-off Tag Heuer Monaco "Mikrograph". This collaboration, with exhibitions in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York, Milan and Geneva, was unveiled on 30 August 2011 on a world press tour which ends on 17 September.

Paul du Toit. Photo by Gregor Rohrig.

It will be auctioned at Only Watch on September 22, 2011 to benefit the research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, during an event in Monaco, under the patronage of Prince Albert of Monaco.

"From the outset I wanted to create a contrast between the highly engineered design of the watch and the box. This is a collaboration from two different worlds, so I wanted to reflect that. The box is almost like an ancient treasure chest that one cannot wait to open in order to see what surprise is inside. I like that idea," says Du Toit.

This commission follows his award of a medal from the city of Florence in the Biennale Internationale Dell'arte Contemporanea and the design of the logo for international eyewear store, Eye Respect. Locally, was involved directly with Nelson Mandela in fundraising efforts for his 46664 campaign for three successive years. Ink handprints on canvas of Mandela's boxing hand were auctioned in Johannesburg and in London. In 2009, a mould of Mandela's boxing hand, which was cast in a one-off unique bronze, was auctioned in London for $3.5m. In 2010, an imprint of both hands were made into a relief sculpture and auctioned in NY. He also has been used by Saronsberg wines for the Provenance label for years.

"I used to have such an issue with time. As an artist it always feels like I am running out of time because there is so much I still want to create. Time took on a different meaning for me when I was diagnosed with cancer recently. It is amazing how time now becomes part of my art in the form of a watch."