Anything created from passion will last forever. The last project from the late artist Franco-Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez further strengthens the links between art and watchmaking. The new Classic Fusion Cruz-Diez features an array of colours in constant motion, changing in potentially infinite combinations. Beyond the purely visual effect, the horological colour composition changes and evolves with the passing of the hours, minutes and seconds, mirroring other works by the late artist – a well-known figure in the world of kinetic art. Parallel discs rotate in sequence in a masterstroke of technical ingenuity from Hublot. The timepiece was launched on 5th December at the Espace Expression gallery in Miami, in the presence of the artist's family.
"We are very excited to present this project", states Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO Hublot. "It is the culmination of developments made since our first collaboration with Carlos Cruz-Diez in 2015, and a tribute to his work. Kinetic art is a disruptive art form that places the spectator's perception at the centre of the piece in order to question the purpose and status of a work of art. Together, we have created a working piece of art that can be worn on the wrist."
"Color is light, time and space. Color is not in the past, it is a continuous present", says Carlos Cruz-Diez, Artist.
Considered one of the twentieth century's greatest colour theorists, Carlos Cruz-Diez concluded from his analysis that colour represents "an ephemeral, autonomous and ever evolving reality". This led us to design the dial on two levels treated in saturated Pantone colours, with the hour hand on the first level and the minute hand on the second, each driving the rotation of a transparent disc featuring printed black lines. This system causes the pattern of colours to evolve every second over a 24-hour period. The piece – very much designed to be worn – also features the artist's metallic signature on the case-back. The calfskin leather strap and the box extend the optical experience in pursuit of an eternal present.
The Classic Fusion Cruz-Diez is available with two case sizes (45 mm and 38 mm) in a choice of three materials: 100 and 25 titanium pieces, 30 and 20 King Gold pieces and 100 and 25 black ceramic pieces respectively.
