If you look at the products I have designed over the past 40 years, you will probably feel that the Beethoven Clock doesn’t fit in. I completely understand. My primary aesthetic is minimalism – definitely not postmodernism. But this piece came from a different place than all of my other work. When I was in university in the mid-1980s, it appeared to me in a dream just as it is now. I wrote this down when I woke. I couldn’t imagine creating such a thing a that time, but simply couldn’t get it out of my head. A few years later in Tokyo, I was in a huge art supply store. One of their floors was filled with every kind of plaster statue that I imagine were used for sketching in art classes. There, I unexpectedly found the Beethoven bust of my dreams. Bought it on the spot, then slowly figured out how to make a clock.

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This original Beethoven Clock was made of a two-thirds size plaster bust. It was only made for myself to display in my home. Now that it was out of my head, I was completely satisfied, and thought it was done. However, in 1997 an opportunity appeared to show it at a public exhibition. For this, I rented a mini-grand piano to display it on. It apparently made a big impact. I was commissioned to make this as a limited edition product to sell for the upcoming turn of the century. This was now made out of fiberglass but essentially the same, and sold out quickly.

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At that stage, again, I was completely satisfied, and thought it was done. Over the past 20+ years however, I have been contacted many times about where to purchase this Beethoven Clock. I couldn’t give people what they wanted, but I slowly began thinking about ways to reproduce, and improve upon this piece. As 3D printing became more accessible, I began to realize that there may be a way to accomplish this.

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This latest Beethoven Clock version is about 60% the size of its original. It is better suited to fit on a bookshelf, or at the side of your bed. The biggest improvement is something that I always wanted to do. It is now an alarm clock. Of course, its alarm is Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5  C minor.

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Now, I am completely satisfied, and think it is done.