Swatch and Mika
Swatch and post-modern pop star Mika have created the latest Swatch Art Specials, comprised of two vibrant limited edition timepieces.
Mika was born in Lebanon’s capital Beirut and raised in Paris and London. The singer-songwriter is known for his clean pop sound, releasing his first studio album in 2007 and a further two since. His musical endeavours have seen him work with influential artists including Pharrell Williams.
For the collaboration with Swatch, Mika developed two different designs, KUKULAKUKI and KUKULAKUKU, both of which express his idea of the watch as a totemic object. Both timepieces feature a simple, bold pattern on the strap, with an image suggesting a traditional African tribal mask on each dial. “The patterns are a mix of designs that can be found in Tunisian, Moroccan, and other African and Oceanic tribal motifs,” said Mika. “The tribal mask heads are a mix of sources; it’s difficult to pinpoint what they might be. But it doesn’t really matter, because they have the same function – they’re there to inspire curiosity and awe. We wanted the object to feel a little bit mystical.”
Mika also worked with Swatch on their augmented reality app Swatch AR’t, fleshing out the myth that lies at the heart of his design. The AR’t app can be downloaded from the iOS App Store and Android Market.
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