Mario Testino, Peru’s prodigal son, returned to Lima for the re-opening of MALI, the Museum of Modern Art Lima, with his traveling exhibition ‘Portraits’ first shown in London’s National Gallery in 2002, which features a series of celebrities shot by Mario during the last 15 years.
Accompanied by his muse Kate Moss, Lima’s glitterati cheered at Mario’s opening remarks “Que dificil no ser Peruano” (“It must be so difficult not to be Peruvian”). This statement captures the euphoric spirit the Andean nation finds itself in these days (by the way the statement eventually became a t-shirt, isn’t it funny this human need to wear our beliefs?).
After decades of violence and terrorism Peru is finding its place in the global marketplace. Its 9.8 percent growth rate last year was one of the world’s fastest. And record commodities prices, coupled with China’s insatiable demand for raw materials, are helping the mineral-rich nation weather the financial crisis better than most other countries in the region.
The excitement is palpable, from the boom in construction to the revival of Peruvian gastronomy. As I was walking through the hotel lobby, sporting a cotton bag actually bought in Mexico a woman cheered at me “how lovely, how Peruvian”!
What came first, the pride or the fast growing GDP? It’s a bit an egg and chicken question, but one can’t help but smile, and wish hardworking Peruvians the best, in their newly found spot in today’s global mesh…
Our proposed brand for the Unique Identification Authority of India programme was selected as one of five finalist submissions http://uidai.gov.in/
An ambitious endeavour from the Government of India, the programme will issue a number to 1.2 billion people – some of whom will be systematically integrated into society for the very first time.
Run by one of India’s most admired businessmen, Nandan Nilekani (former CEO of Infosys), this could very well be the first of a fresh type of government initiative in India – one that is more transparent, accountable, inclusive and effective.
Functionally, the card brings people inside the system. But symbolically, it brings Indians closer together. We created a visual expression that is bold, simple and meaningful by playing on the concept of the index finger dot – a mark of democracy. The visual expression binds the individual to the larger system but equally, celebrates each person’s uniqueness – the collective colour and vibrancy that makes up India’s amazing diversity.
Our congratulations to the winners – whom we look forward to race again at the next new, bold initiative.
Wally Olins and Jacob Benbunan announced the launch of Saffron’s Viennese location today. In cooperation with St. Stephen’s advertising agency, Saffron will be exploring central and eastern Europe from Vienna. Says Jacob Benbunan “having worked for Raiffeisen International all across CEE, for Rompetrol in Romania and Vestel in Turkey, it quickly became clear to us that we needed a local presence.”
“The team in Vienna will be building on our various existing client relationships and partnerships to build a real presence throughout CEE over the next months” adds Wally Olins. Saffron will also be actively trying to form new friendships and partnerships with “agencies and consultancies throughout the region that talk and behave like we do” Wally continues.
Building on jobs such as Litro, Turkcell and Rompetrol the Saffron Vienna team are already in conversation with various concerns and places in the CEE region. Wally and Jacob will both be closely involved with work handled by the Vienna location.
Saffron’s six-month project with the Lithuanian Development Agency to devise a six-year strategy and action plan for developing what the client called ‘the economic image of Lithuania’ (and what Wally and I thought of as ‘the image of Lithuania, particularly with respect to commercial considerations’) has wrapped.
We had a press conference in Vilnius yesterday. The twin themes we suggested form the heart of the strategy — the core ideas — are lively and ‘romantic’, and thoughtful and reliable. Both are genuine sides of the genuinely interesting nation that is Lithuania.
