Art, design and the true spirit of Christmas

In “Christmas Impressions,” the Hyatt Hotel and Casino, along with internationally renowned designer and Movement 8 co-founder Tes Pasola  promotes Filipino design and, more importantly, helps others in keeping with the true spirit of Christmas.

With past participants including Impy Pilapil and Ann Pamintuan, Hyatt general manager Gottfried Bogensperger points out that the hotel’s program of working with accomplished Filipino artists and designers every Christmas is perfectly in keeping with the Hyatt’s reputation as a contemporary hotel which uniquely features many works by Filipino artists and designers. 

Indeed, evident even in a quick walk through the hotel’s lobby is the impressive sculpture “Windsoul” by Impy Pilapil and “Sculptural Sticks,” a large-scale work by Ann Pamintuan which dominates The Lounge.

And in keeping with the Hyatt’s program of Corporate Social Responsibility, Gottfried points out that “We wanted to be different this Christmas. So we worked with Tes Pasola who used recycled newspapers to create our Christmas decoration this year.  Instead of cutting down another tree, we recycled the product that comes from those trees.” 

All the scepters and votive lanterns that Tes installed throughout the hotel are made from recycled newspapers and are for sale, with all the proceeds to be donated to Kythe and the Make-A-Wish Foundations. Gottfried adds, “We did not want just a standard Christmas tree. We want people to think: What is Christmas about?  And then people have the opportunity to contribute a little something for a good cause. It is a non-traditional approach to Christmas decoration.”

Tes Pasola says, “Most people want to be safe. They promote the traditional. It is harder to promote something different. And because of this difficulty, it is good that there are people like Gottfried who are willing to take a chance and are willing to support projects such as this.” 

The Austrian general manager of the Hyatt also mentions that he wants to promote controversy and thought. “People don’t know any better and that is why people go to the traditional. That’s why I want people to think. I want people to have an opinion. Like it or hate it,  but have an opinion. For example, it was the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth in Salzburg. And they commissioned an artist who made the ugliest sculpture of Mozart. But because of the reaction it created, the whole event flourished! And the artist said, ‘I don’t care what you people think… that is my Mozart!’ And that created even more controversy. If it is traditional then people will say, ‘Oh, it is the 250th year and then that’s it.’ There are always pros and cons.  We cannot always agree. But at least everyone talks about it.”

He adds, “I believe everyone wants something different but very few people have the guts to go with their own feeling. They are too concerned about public opinion and what others think. Look at Philippe Starck. The most amazing thing to me is that flyswatter he designed. It is so expensive. Maybe $80. And how much is a normal flyswatter? Maybe not even $1. But I bought them to give as gifts.  And what do people do with them? They use them for decoration! Who uses a flyswatter for decoration? Nobody will kill a fly with an $80 flyswatter! Using a flyswatter as decoration — that is innovation!”

And speaking as a designer, Tes says, “We enjoy trying to innovate.  You are never wrong when you innovate. Actually artists are better innovators than designers like us because they don’t have to think of the commercial aspect. Art is an expression of your person.  Design is to make something for a function. It is important to innovate now because of competition. For product designers like us, we have to be careful not to crossover to art because your design still needs to have a function.”

In addition to donating all sale proceeds to the Kythe and Make-A-Wish Foundations, “Christmas Impressions” is doubly appropriate as it puts the spotlight squarely on the issue of recycling.

 Tes says, “Many of our challenges now as designers involve recycling. Not everyone is happy about it. We may be aware of its significance but we feel sad that we are eating on a paper plate or using something recycled because maybe it is not as nice. You know it is important, but you are not happy. So if we make beautiful items out of recycled materials then you can feel good about recycling.”

Currently, with as many as 200 of Tes’ scepters sold for charity, Gottfried also hopes that this project will somehow help others think about recycling and helping others. “The staff sings Christmas carols at 7 p.m. They feel committed to the project. And people are taking their pictures with the decoration. So this is just one small activity that is sprouting other different activities. So now it is getting bigger and bigger. This is just one hotel. Imagine if it were 20 hotels? And Tes does not make any money from this. She probably loses money because of her time and expenses to produce the items.  And what does it cost the hotel to drill a few holes in the ceiling which we will have to repaint anyway? There is no commercial side to this project but we are going to do something anyway for Christmas so why not do this? Make people think. Anyway, for sure we will have some Christmas decoration. But this is more than just decoration. We need to start somewhere… even if it is in a small way.”

”Christmas Impressions” runs at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino until the first week of January. Tes Pasola’s scepters are for sale at P250 (small), P500 (medium) and P750 (large). The Votive Lanterns are P300. All proceeds will be donated to Kythe and Make-A-Wish Foundations.

The Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila is located at 1588 Pedro Gil corner M.H. del Pilar Streets, Malate, Manila. Call 245-1234 or e-mail hyattmanila@hyattintl.com. Tes Pasola can be reached at Mind Masters Inc.  Call 842-1472 or 809-6176.