WATCHES & TIMEPIECES 39
A task of extraordinary patience , some grooves are filled with regular lacquer while UV paint is used for others . This carefully defined balance of painted and glowing lines creates a sophisticated architectural depth under UV light , while demonstrating our mastery of luminescence . The selection of shades and their varying effects reflect the artist ’ s vision of the world ’ s vibrancy and the energy produced by its everchanging landscape .
INSPIRED BY URBAN EVOLUTION
Never one to shy away from a challenge , Roger Dubuis made the decision to recraft and reshape its own work of art – the Excalibur MT – last year . Now , it features modern clean-cut lines on both case and movement , while the signature star levitates freely above the barrel . Reinterpreted for the modern world , its evolution raised the timepiece to an even higher standard , while providing an exciting and versatile canvas for Liu Wei to express himself .
Born in China where he lives and works , Liu Wei does it all , from witty cultural critiques to evocative installation pieces . Like Roger Dubuis , his radical expertise and creativity have earned him success , while his rule-breaking masterpieces have been shown at the most renowned museums and exhibitions around the globe . Belonging to a generation that grew up in a period of accelerating urbanisation , this rapid evolution inspires much of his art , including his famous “ Purple Air ” series . As obsessive about creating the future as Roger Dubuis , his art reflects on the world ’ s dynamism , its changing urban landscape , and its digital transformation . Through a complex composition of colourful lines , the artist creates an expressive work that represents a blurred , bustling , and digitised environment . This vision is reproduced by Roger Dubuis ’ watchmakers , transforming the original Excalibur MT into a sophisticated masterpiece of clashing colour , pulsing with the light and life of the modern urban world .
Reflecting on the challenge , the artist declared : “ I never stick to one method in my art , and I respect other artists who do the same , whether they ’ re watchmakers or writers . Art is about seeing the world anew and experimenting with different ways of creating that world .”
UNRIVALLED CRAFTSMANSHIP
Roger Dubuis ’ watchmakers imagined an ingenious three-layer solution to bring Liu Wei ’ s vision to life . Creating a stunning effect , the first layer of décor features a transparent sapphire glass engraved with vertical lines on both the front and back . Hand-filled with extreme precision , the watchmakers coloured each groove individually in a meticulous process that required every line dried completely before the next one was painted .
The second layer houses Roger Dubuis ’ astral signature . Always willing to break rules , its thickness is reduced to work within Liu Wei ’ s concept . while its grey structure features distinctive black lines for a disruptive contrast to the intricate composition created by the colourful stripes . This directly mirrors elements used by the artist to disrupt the systematic patterns of his own work .
The third and final layer features a sapphire glass case-back laser-engraved to create horizontal grooves . Hand-filled with UV paint , this overlap of lines creates an eyecatching contrast with the vertical stripes of the first layer . An exclusive and labourintensive task , the result is a true example of contemporary art .
The finishing touches of expressive craftsmanship are found on the flange . Opting not to apply minute markers on the dark grey surface , the Maison chose to enhance the hour markers by filling them with black SuperLuminova * for a vivid glow in the dark effect , also visible under UV light .
Issue 56 2023 THE ART OF LUXURY