Art in Tillotts - another form of Passion!

The picture of our CEO Thomas A. Tóth von Kiskér on the new Tillotts website was the first hint of something new – a colourful, swirling background.

The New Tillotts

20 years after arriving in Switzerland in 2009 things started to change dramatically in this commercially successful but otherwise uninspired company. New ownership by Zeria opening a long term perspective, new management, new state-of-the-art facilities in Rheinfelden, many new employees, new affiliates, new laboratories…

For the first time management has been making a major effort to create an atmosphere within which individuals and teams of motivated, well-treated and appreciated employees can achieve outstanding performances. The motto is reflected on the new website, on every business card and greeting every visitor to the facilities in Switzerland and abroad:

 

 

However something was missing

How could the essence of the company be shown? How could management’s vision for the way the company and its staff should be, in order to achieve its ambitious goals be visualised?

Art was the answer. Since time immemorial humankind has presented its ideas and emotions in the form of art.

Witold Stypa, an internationally well-known, technically versatile and visionary painter and fresco artist originating from Poland, creator of the “cosmoreal” school, whose motto is “The search for the new is too valuable, to leave in the hands of others” (www.witold-stypa.de) was selected. He was invited to Tillotts and briefed as to what we would like to have included in the paintings he would create exclusively for us.

The Unveiling or the Ceremony of Disclosure
On Tuesday April 4th 2011, all of Tillotts’ Rheinfelden staff crowded into the Boardroom which looked like this.

“Sometimes art is just used to fill an empty wall” is probably what some of the attendees were thinking when Thomas A. Tóth stepped up to the lectern to address the gathering.

Witold Stypa had been asked to create an absolutely unique piece of art, combining:

• our logo (red swoosh)
• our Japanese corporate parenthood
• expression of an atmosphere of free thinking of those in the Boardroom to be:
  
  - creative
  - unconventional, strive for other dimensions
  - brave & out of the box

 

With this our CEO aims to create an atmosphere of:

• power
• drive
• dynamics & change
• freedom to speak up and
• freedom to be different or controversial

Under the still sceptical and serious looks of the attendees the wraps came off …

… then silence as everybody present tried to grasp the great big expanse of joyful colours while asking themselves:

…. Do I like it?

…. What does it mean?

…Where are the things it’s meant to represent?

Thomas A. Tóth explains:

“The Tillotts swoosh, a mighty band crossing the picture, Mount Fuji standing for the essence of Japan, waves symbolising forcefulness, resolution, determination, symbolising our forcefulness, our resolution, our determination to make changes, to build up a New Tillotts. Magma, the ultimate power, even stronger than waves.

All done in vibrant, bright and joyful colours, strong in the centre and below, calmer above Mount Fuji where the colours echo those of Japanese silk kimonos of times gone by.

And all done in an extremely complex technique of more than 40 different layers of colours and frescos - seen from the side a third dimension.”

Reception area Tillotts Head Quarters in Rheinfelden:

Like a proud father, Thomas A. Tóth also unveiled and introduced the second smaller Stypa artwork likewise made uniquely for us to be displayed in the main reception area of Tillotts’ Rheinfelden Head Office.

The inner carpet is Zeria red, the surrounding carpet the old Tillotts blue and the new picture reflects these two basic colours now joined in successful symbiosis.

The Zeria group Z is entwined here and the elements from the first “Fuji” picture have been reprocessed into smaller parts – like a kaleidoscope - compared with its larger sibling this work of art is more complex, less dynamic, calmer - perfect for welcoming our guests and putting them at ease for the meetings ahead.

And at the end in his own words:

“I am closing this small ceremony of disclosure with a personal wish:

That the so powerful picture in our Board Meeting Room shall inspire us in our free thinking and in our determination to transform this company into a company as described in our Vision: Strong and Successful.

Thank you for your attention!”

Thomas A. Tóth von Kiskér
Chief Executive Officer