Haute horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet unleashed design collaboration with Fernando Mastrangelo at Art Basel Hong Kong 2019.

Dubbed as “La Vallée”, the creation process takes two years to complete.  The lounge concept is soon demarcated as Art Basel Hong Kong’s Collectors Lounge, where guests are transported to Audemars Piguet’s home in Vallée de Joux, a valley located in Jura Mountains, Swiss.

The Brooklyn-based artist is playing with the parallax nature offers by reconstructing geological manifestations into grave, masculine depiction of the passing time. The whole lounge is representing a shrine, completed with aurora-like lighting that barely passes through the inner façade.

Minerals extracted from the actual region have been cast and repurposed into such manifestation, including walls, display cases, and furniture. In one corner of the room, there is a Watchmaker Desk where people can witness Piguet’s craftsmanship first-handedly. Beside the desk is a strata wall that creates mountainous fata morgana. This illusory experience also carries Audemars Piguet’s latest watch collection: gold, brass, aventurine, sapphire glass and iron.

Mastrangelo’s meticulous sculpting is mostly seen in another corner of the room called Escape Lounge. Living up to its name, the area is designed to recreate sunset moment in Vallée de Joux; a perfect place to escape to. In order to do this, the artist replicates the natural light from the valley using a high-tech drone.

The intricately fine geometry is said to endeavor the horologer’s philosophy in creating world’s finest timepiece. Audemars Piguet has long been known for its collaborative art installations with world-leading artists under the theme natural landscape, sustainability, and intricate technology. This time, the sculptor slash architect’s creation will be exhibited across Art Basel’s sites, including Hong Kong, Basel, and Miami Beach.

PHOTOS Courtesy of Audemars Piguet