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. 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.” -Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot
“Color is light, time and space.
Color is not in the past, it is a continuous present.” -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.