Nautilus Pen
By Tan Qian Rou
In the intersection of literature and adventure, few writers contest French author Jules Verne, whose journeys have taken us around the globe and further still, into its depths. It is one of Verne’s most famous creations, Captain Nemo’s mysterious submarine in Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea that lends its name to Hermes’ collaboration with designer Marc Newson. And what better object to pay tribute to Verne, than the humble pen?
Much like its fictitious, submersible counterpart, the Nautilus hides an ocean of depth beneath its exterior. The gentle curve of the pen’s body speaks of a carefulness that goes beyond construction; it is a consideration not of the pen’s own form, but also of the act of writing and the meeting between a writer and his instrument.
Newson carries the elegance of this dialogue through to the mechanism that supports the pen, a complex rotation that allows the nib to retract into its body. It is no simple twist: the constraint of fitting such a complex mechanism into the minute space of the pen leans towards the difficulty of aeronautical engineering rather than product design.
The conception of the Nautilus brought Newson and Hermes to Pilot Corporation in 2010, who viewed the hidden mechanism as the largest technical challenge they had seen in almost a century. But it is this innovative complexity that allows the Nautilus to reduce its form to a simple, almost anachronistic appearance. The Nautilus becomes a single gesture, which strengthens the intimacy between pen and hand. The instinctive act of writing is infused with ceremony and delight.
All this lends practicality to the Nautilus: no clip, no ring, just an elegant stroke in aluminum and stainless steel. The Nautilus is an everyday object, but one which yearns for the travel and freedom of Verne’s fantastical tales and Hermes’ spirit. Objectively, it is simple: a sophisticated, well-crafted pen to last the ages. And yet, it is more. The Nautilus is both a companion in physical exploration and a vessel through which ideas take flight. In celebration of this spirit of freedom, Vulture invites several young creatives to let their imaginations wander by putting the Nautilus to paper.
Teresa Lim
THE ILLUSTRATOR
Teresa, sometimes known as TeeTeeHeeHee, is an embroidery artist and illustrator. She is recognized for her quirky style of work and her wacky proportions of human figure drawing. A voracious reader, Teresa collects words and phrases and draws most of her inspiration from texts and characters she meets in books. She is also a 21st century fast food junkie.
Janice Wong
THE CHEF
Trailblazer, that’s what she is. One is impressed by Janice’s drive and daring — and of course, her cutting-edge pastries and desserts. An economics graduate, Janice stepped off the beaten path by studying at Le Cordon Bleu Paris. Riding on culinary virtuoso and revolutionary concepts on sweet and savory flavors, it comes as no surprise that Janice’s dessert restaurant ‘2am:dessertbar’ is one of the best in the country.
Yanda
THE CURATOR
With an eye for aesthetic creativity and A belief in design discipline, Yanda has made his life’s work about gathering material that engages and inspires his audience. Among other things. YANDA IS A Curator, blogger and designer, AND HIS list of creative pursuits goes on, proving his ineffable belief in the words central to his creative agency – DO NOT DESIGN: "Work is not work when you love what you do."”
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