Ravage
RAVAGE is the result of the meeting of two creative souls.
Two Dutch artists, Arnold van Geuns and Clémens Rameckers initially met at the Académie de Beaux Arts in Arnhem in the
Netherlands and have worked together since 1976.
RAVAGE is an artist in the widest sense of the word. It reserves the right to be jack of all trades, and specialises in none,
yet its work is always done with precision. Here, we still find the Nordic touch of Master Rietveld, but 25 years in France
have managed to add a little Latin polish to sober lines. There is a solid cultural history behind this four-handed creation.
By means of an evocative game, a chain of logic leads to the conception of an initial idea. With its personalised method of
creation, RAVAGE has created its own signature which is easily recognised.
Contrary to appearances, its style does not feature baroque elements, but on the contrary is a work which is anything but
nostalgic.
Behind this allusive game there hide many historical figures, who in time initiated very different projects.
Napoleon and Josephine, Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve, Louis Napoleon the unhappy king of Holland, Jeanne and
Gilles, all appear in the most diverse of forms. In furniture, in
accessories or on objects such as Swatch watches always developed with the strictest of symmetry. This need for symmetry can
also be seen in more abstract subjects like, Good and Evil, Health and Sickness, the Red Cross and the Thorny Crown, the
balance is reflected in the dominant use of Black and White.
In this pseudo-moralistic game RAVAGE brings subjects which have almost been forgotten by art, back to life. The images
represent Charity, Patriotism, Love and Hate. These subjects, today considered as taboo, are treated in a light-hearted
manner, rapidly written without scruples. A result which is sometimes troubling in its complexity.
How about this chair as a sample of Ravage's practical approach to art:
The Famous Couple Swatch watches
In 1994 Swatch issued a set of two Gent Swatches by these artists, following their distinct style. The idea of wearable
art, well known to both Swatch and Ravage, obviously matched their own feelings.
The one on the left has the code GB158 and the name Aiglon. It depicts Napoleon Bonaparte, born in 1769 (Nap).
The one on the right has the code GB159 and the name Aiglette. It depicts his wife Joséphine de Beauharnais, born in 1763
(Jodebo).
L'Aiglon (the "Little Eagle") is a nickname for the infant son of Napoleon Bonaparte, called Napoleon II,
Duke of Reichstadt, who was Emperor of the French Empire for a brief period. So strangely the watch is named after the son of the man
depicted on the watch (confirmed by his year of birth on the upper strap). Aiglette obviously is the female form of Aiglon. It is also known as
an Aiguillette which is an ornamental braided cord most often worn on uniforms, but may also be observed on other costumes such
as academic dress, where it will denote an honor. Originally, the word "aiguillette" referred to the lacing used to fasten plate
armour together. As such a knot or loop arrangement was used which sometimes hung down from the shoulder. My conclusion is both
names are used in an artistic manner. Here is a page from the 1994 catalog:
Here are some close-ups of the heads:
Did you notice the two Aiglons have different dials? On the catalog picture the "swatch swiss" is placed horizontally where on
the actual Swatch this is placed vertically. Horizontally it did not really fit and this placement matches the one on Aiglette much nicer.
Now I guess there must be a prototype (maybe a dummy) for this Swatch with the horizontal placement! If anyone has it, do let me know.
Would like to have one as well!
Also please note the hands on the catalog picture are fixed not in the standard 10:10 position, which would spoil both the
eyes of Nap and of Jodebo, but in the 09:20 position. This you do not see that often!
Both dials show 1993 as the design year.
Special packages
Such great set of watches deserve great packaging. To date four different packages are known. Let's have a look at them.
First of all there is the Worldwide Special Package GZS05, in which the set was sold worldwide (not limited):
Then we have a Limited Edition Special Package, GB158PACK2. This is a limited and numbered edition of 1,500 pieces, issued in
Italy in 1994:
Third is the issue that was made for the grand opening of the Swatch Luxury shop at the Place Vendôme in Paris,
on June 29, 2000. It has the code GB185PACK3 and contains Aiglon only:
Finally here is the issue that was made for the Berlin Traveling Vendôme Event. July 2, 2002 a gala to celebrate the Traveling
Vendôme Berlin exhibition took place at the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin, Germany. About 220 guests (including celebrities such
as actor Theo Gärtner, Maren Gilzer, Mutter Beimer ["Lindenstraße" :-] and ... 10 German gold members) were invited. The
exhibition showed the special ladders designed for the opening of the Vendôme Luxury store in Paris in 2000, the special Skins
designed for the 1st birthday of the Vendôme store and more. During the gala, Vendôme swatches were sold, all money went to
charity. At the end of the party, all guests received a special packaging (related to the ladder theme) of one of the
Ravage swatches: Aiglon for the men and Aiglette for the ladies:
Litho's
You probably know I am very fond of Swatch watches together with their original artwork. Think of Corneille's Vive le Paix,
Keith Haring's Breakdance, Albin Christen's Crazy Train, Matthias Winkler's Zeit2, Kiki Picasso's Poster and many many more. I
searched for the Ravage litho's belonging to the Famous Couple for many years. And now, in 2009, I found them! They are very
very special and rare as well. Both come in a limited numbered and signed edition of 100 pieces only.
Fantastic quality original artwork.
I love them! But wait, it gets even better! Here they are professionally framed with the Swatches inside
the frame. These are the very very best!
The bold gold frame matches the artwork fantastically:
Both are numbered (x/100) in the lower left corner:
Both are signed in the lower right corner:
Both feature their Swatch watch, facing in the direction of their loved one, at the same height. They
are not fixed by double sided sticky tape but by small wires which is less intrusive to the picture:
And finally here are some more details to give you an idea of how I enjoy these pieces:
Copyright
Last revised on January 29, 2010 © 1996-2010 Hans van Buuren, all rights reserved.
None of the contents on this page may be copied or published in any way without prior written permission by the author.
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