Building on a history now spanning more than 140 years, Audemars Piguet has found its way through ever-changing styles and eras. Conceived by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur and enriched with artworks by renowned artists such as Cheng Ran, Dan Holdsworth and Alexandre Joly, this exhibition will highlight the main milestones of this watchmaking story, while demonstrating the manufacturer’s unwavering loyalty to its core philosophy: “To Break the Rules, You Must First Master Them”. It takes visitors on a journey through Audemars Piguet’s history, its unique art of watchmaking and crafts, and its engagements with the world of contemporary art.
Lehanneur designed an architectural installation in the form of a large-scale ring with a copper finish that has been structured around a rock created from cast replicas of those found in Audemars Piguet’s home in the Vallée de Joux. Around it, twelve doors will open, each revealing a story about Audemars Piguet. 200 timepieces (vintage and contemporary) will be displayed across the 12 rooms within the ring. This will be the largest collection of Audemars Piguet timepieces ever to be shown outside of the Museum.
After Shanghai, the exhibition will appear in other art capitals from 2017 onwards.
“Since the company was founded, Audemars Piguet has specialized in the creation of complex horological mechanisms, constantly pushing the boundaries of technical innovations and aesthetic creativity" says Jasmine Audemars, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors. "Now we are pushing a different kind of boundaries, having embarked on this journey from our origins to the 21st century, from Le Brassus to China, and we are looking forward to witnessing the encounter between these two very different worlds.”
