Ton Pret for Lacoste
by Christine Barnett. London, UK
Ton Pret’s designs inject a cocktail of bright colors and seduce the senses of those with a vivid imagination. So far, Lacoste headquarters, no less, have given into this courtesan of deep patterns and patron of the surreal within contemporary boundaries. The explosions of color accompany patterned creatures in a Picassoesque way. Ton Pret’s collaboration with Lacoste is a recent development and dates back to 2011. Lacoste first took notice of his paintings and works of art. Ton does shoes, paints cars, designs glasses with his signature style-and in particular his masterpiece Ferrari. Not crazy in the slightest, but if somebody trusts their instincts enough to let him paint their Ferrari then maybe this guy has something. For now, the “Ton Pret Ferrari” is a project with a separate story, as well as the art shoes for the very luxurious shoes brand Royal Greve. While paying homage to Lacoste’s crocodile, when making his painting, Ton wanted to show his ”interpretation of the “Lacoste feeling”, but with the crocodile in the lead role”. He continues say that ”My painting is not just painted on a canvas, but is painted on a long wooden panel of 245 cm, which formerly served as a decor piece of a theater. I wanted to make a statement to a cleaner Earth, by the re-use of materials and that was successful.” The project came about by Karin dijkmans Communication, who approached several artists to participate with Lacoste fashion including Artis Zoo and Christies Auction. Artis urgently needed money to refresh the living space of their crocodiles. The artists were commissioned to create a sculpture or painting, with the crocodile in the lead role, after which the artists donated their work of art to Artis. Artis, Lacoste and Christies would then provide a great exhibition in the beautiful aquarium building of Artis. After all the works would be finished, Christies offered to auction these off at 42,000 euros. Ton Pret’s painting was auctioned by Lacoste itself and hangs on the wall of the stunning headquarters of Lacoste Benelux. Later this year, pictures of Ton’s crocodile artwork will be used in an advertising campaign by Lacoste and seen in all Lacoste stores in the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg.) We were lucky to interview Ton Pret on his work, art and insparations.
Q: How did you get into art?
Ton Pret: “I was the owner of an insurance company for some 20 years and although the business went very well, I wasn’t happy anymore. I decide to sell my company in 2005 and started to make my dream come true to be a painter artist. I never painted before, so everyone thought I was out of my mind. But as a child, I was always drawing unusual figures and creations that were coming out of my enormous fantasy. So I bought a canvas, some paint and a brush and started to make a painting in my own child, just as I did as a kid. I took the painting to a gallery in Amsterdam and they liked it so much, they offered me a contract and sold my painting the next day. And this was the start of a lot more artwork in my own “Ton Pret Style”.”
Q: How did you realize this is you?
Ton Pret: This really is me. I always have had a great fantasy life and I realized that the child in me was always at the surface. I love to create and to follow my fantasy and now I’m doing this 24/7 and I realized quickly that this is really Ton Pret.
Q: What inspires you?
Ton Pret: Everything can inspire me, a sound, a song, a smell, a picture and everything I see in real life can inspire my fantasy and I transform it to my own world of Ton Pret and create a new work of art.
Q: What do you like about a particular genre?
Ton Pret: I like naïve art, just as Dadaisme.
Q: What’s your favorite style?
Ton Pret: Sorry, but that is definitely my own “Ton Pret Style,” because it’s me. When you buy my painting, you bring a piece of Ton Pret in your home.
Q: Which publications did you work for & which collaborations were you a part off?
Ton Pret: Several newspapers like the prestigious Dutch Financieel Dagblad, J & T Magazine of the famous 3 Michelin star restaurant The Librije, Ferrari magazine “Gli Amici della Ferrari”, The Holland Herald of Dutch Airline KLM, Gulfnews magazine of Dubai, American Runway Magazine, Glossy lifestyle and fashion magazine KNOWN by Nika and some more.
Q: Which were the most recent/interesting?
Ton Pret: The most recent is the launch of a new book about wives of famous soccer players like Sylvie Van Der Vaart, Magali Gorre and Yolanthe Sneijder Cabau. I’m in this book and I’ve made a special painting for the festive launch.
Q: In the publications, which you were requested to work, were you conscious of any limitations?
Ton Pret: No, if they give me limitations, I don’t do it, because I only work without limitations.
Q: How long have you been doing this?
Ton Pret: I started with my first painting at 14 February 2005.
Q; Has the industry changed?
Ton Pret: I don’t think so and otherwise I don’t notice it.
Q: What could be improved?
Ton Pret: I don’t think anything have to improved, but that’s my opinion.
Q: The perks?
Ton Pret: They kept the same.
Q: The downsides?
Ton Pret: I don’t see downsides, but maybe that’s because I’m a very positive person.
Q: Who has influenced you?
Ton Pret: Nobody influenced me, it’s pure my own imagination and fantasy. But I admire painters like Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali and Basquiat.
Ton Pret Ferrari
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