TIME 100
New York, 19 May 2011
From 2002 to 2008, Swarovski teamed with Paris based designer Darko Mladenovic who brought his artistic vision and his creativity to imagine outstanding pieces exuding purity, poetry and modernity. In its constant quest for innovation, and utilizing Darko’s vision, Swarovski initiated an exclusive collection of home and décor pieces, Daniel Swarovski Home Accessories.
As part of the collection Darko created the Ray Sculpture. This crystal sculpture symbolizes the purity of the rays of the rising sun, freedom and expansion.
Time Magazine recognized the timelessness and beauty of Darko’s Ray when the Ray was awarded to prominent recipients of Time Magazine’s 100 World’s Most Influential People Award for four years. Darko’s Ray sculpture was awarded to some of the world’s leaders in entertainment, politics, business, art, science, including Ralph Lauren, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Richard Branson.
“I’m happy to know that this sculpture is a unique link between these exceptional people around the world and I hope it can inspire their vision for the future of humanity,” according to Darko.
Darko is a designer, but he defines his approach as that of a “Philosigner,”a mix of philosophy and design. “Crystal is both a collector and distributor of light,” Darko says. “It transforms light from the invisible to the visible. Each object seems to capture the sun’s rays and then reveals them in the splendor of their full color.”
Darko’s creations were also presented at Fashion Rocks (2005 in Monte Carlo and 2007 in London), the Toronto International Film Festival (2006) and at the Green Room at the 78th Annual Academy Awards ceremony.
Photo Darko Mladenovic by Jurij Treskow