The Musée Atelier has invited the expertise of Audemars Piguet Contemporary – the Manufacture’s art programme that commissions and supports contemporary artists – to devise a temporary exhibition reflecting on the transformation of materials in current artistic practices.
Part of the Musée Atelier’s general guided tour, this exhibition is on view till December 15, 2022.
Transformation-matière brings together a group of existing works on loan from Swiss and international artists, including Nina Beier, Latifa Echakhch, Raphael Hefti, Olivier Laric and Christodoulos Panayiotou.
Curated by Audemars Piguet Contemporary, this exhibition draws a parallel to contemporary artists’ use of material transformation within their practice today and explores what a material itself can signify or symbolise when treated in a singular way. The origin of materials, their novelty, or a simple transformation reveal the emotional and narrative potential of each art object.
Transformation-matière takes as its starting point the creation of the Royal Oak in 1972, when for the first time in Haute Horlogerie, steel was ennobled to the same status as gold. This transformation was made possible thanks to the exceptional hand finishing of the steel case and bracelet. From this point of inspiration, the artworks presented in the exhibition all exemplify how working with a new materiality can lead artists to philosophical and emotional discoveries—not dissimilar to the process behind the creation of the Royal Oak 50 years ago.
Part of the Musée Atelier guided tour, Transformation-matière will bring you at the heart of Audemars Piguet’s universe.
The temporary exhibition is open until December 15, 2022.
