Jaeger-LeCoultre continues to push the boundaries of creativity in its “Made of Makers” initiative with a fresh collaboration that’s stirring up the contemporary art scene. This latest artistic venture teams up the Swiss watchmaking giant with the creative prowess of acclaimed Korean digital media artist, Yiyun Kang. Through this novel partnership, the Maison delves into the exciting crossroads of timekeeping and art, drawing inspiration from the beauty of nature and its inherent precision.
Breathing Life Into Art Through Collaboration
At the heart of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s “Made of Makers” initiative lies the understanding that art and horology aren’t two disparate worlds but complementary facets of the same gem of human ingenuity. The initiative embraces creative talents from various disciplines, who echo Jaeger-LeCoultre’s spirit of precision, creativity, and respect for nature in their work.
Yiyun Kang, renowned for her mesmerising audio-visual installations that redefine spaces, is an exemplar of these shared values. Her innovative forays into the liminal space “between the finite and infinite, reality and unreality, surface and depth, absence and presence” echo the nuanced finesse of watchmaking.
The Magic of Projection-Mapping in Yiyun Kang’s Art
Yiyun Kang employs the transformative art of projection-mapping to create ethereal spaces that challenge conventional boundaries of narrative and space. Whether in small-scale indoor environments or large public outdoor spaces, her immersive installations invite viewers into an otherworldly dimension, eliciting awe and a thrilling disorientation as perceptions of space, time, and dimension are dissolved and reshaped.
Her work is imbued with a sublime fluidity and organic movement, akin to the rhythmic dance of time on a watch face. Yet, as with horology, beneath the beauty lies an intricate tapestry of intellectual rigor, precise mathematical calculations, and meticulous craftsmanship.
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Embarking on a Journey of Discovery: The Golden Ratio
For each “Made of Makers” partnership, Jaeger-LeCoultre entrusts an original work to the artist, encouraging them to interpret a Maison theme through their unique artistic lens. For this 2023 collaboration, the spotlight was on the Golden Ratio—a concept that has resonated with humans for centuries and features prominently in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s iconic Reverso design.
Yiyun Kang’s fascination with the intersection of creativity and technology was further ignited by her visit to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Manufacture in Vallée de Joux. This immersion into the heart of the Maison allowed her to grasp the essence of its ethos, values, and the intricate watchmaking process.
Jaeger-LeCoultre inspired me to explore, to draw a continuous line from the natural world into my digital space.
Yiyun Kang
Introducing Origin: A Tribute to the Golden Ratio
The artist’s journey culminated in the creation of ‘Origin,’ a captivating homage to the Golden Ratio’s prevalence in the world around us. Installed on a gigantic three-dimensional screen, ‘Origin’ draws striking parallels between natural symmetry and the geometry of Art Deco design.
There are astounding examples from nature that literally represent the Phi number, the Golden Ratio, in their organisms. Perhaps we are attracted to it because it identifies the origin of life – not just an aesthetic pattern, but an anchor for evolution.
Yiyun Kang
With its premier in Seoul this June, “Origin” will grace a series of Jaeger-LeCoultre events in major global cities, including Chengdu, Singapore, New York, and Zurich.
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