The New Swatch Presented at the Venice Biennale

Between art and Swatch exists an intriguing love story – a story that, each year, shows off a new aspect during the Venice Biennale. This year, the 57th edition was the occasion for introducing four of the artists in residence at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai – French photographer Virginie Litzler, Belgian artist/architect Cédric van Parys, South African Rodan Kane Hart, and Chinese painter Yuan Jinhua were introduced as the Swatch Faces 2017. Since November 11, this artists residency by Swatch has hosted more than 240 artists from around the world. The idea: encourage an exchange between cultures through the medium of contemporary art. Virginie Litzler was thus fascinated by the visual and mysterious poetry that emanates from the streets of Shanghai – these polluted streets where shadows create games of dark and light. The work of Yuan Jinhua was also infused with poetry. In a series of eight paintings made with ink and wash drawing techniques, he gives a voice to these profound and ever-changing emotions.

The post-modern skyscrapers of Shanghai caught the eye of architect Cédric van Parys, particularly the strange monuments erected at their summits. Rodan Kane Hart offered a different point of view of the city, intrigued by its colonial heritage that is still present. 40 polished stainless steel masks represent the symbolic death of Western artistic conception. But the mainstay of these collaborations is no doubt one that yielded a brand new and highly symbolic version of the legendary Swatch. Imagined through a collection from British painter Ian Davenport, the Wide Acres of Time watch is inspired by Giardini Colorfall, a monumental installation exhibited at the Swatch Pavillion in the 2017 Biennale.

This abstract but vibrant work on the Swatch itself is the smallest painting that artist has ever created. Available in a limited edition of 1,966 copies, this timepiece is a unique work of art that can be worn on the wrist. Composed with swatches of color that unite within a chromatic whirlpool, the Wide Acres of Time is presented in a setting that was specially conceived to contain an emotional poem composed by the artist’s brother. Swatch’s creative director Carlo Giordanetti commented: “The ‘Wide Acres of Time’ watch will conquer the wrists of collectors and friends of Swatch. This new entry of art into people’s real lives conveys the message ‘Swatch loves art’ that inspires and motivates creative dialogue.” Available soon