If someone told you that a peony could turn into a bird while accentuating luxury watches, you might reach for your morning coffee. But then there’s Jaeger-LeCoultre, partnering with animation whiz Jackie Wang to make the impossible sound irresistibly delightful. As part of their Made of Makers programme, the Swiss watchmaker is harmonizing horology and art in the most unexpected ways.
At ‘The Dream Shaper’ exhibition in Shanghai, Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled a breathtaking collaboration with animation director Jackie Wang. Known for weaving hand-drawn animation with emotional and visual storytelling, Wang ventures into the roots of cinema with her project ‘Drawn in Time’. By reimagining the ‘phenakistiscope’ – an early animation device – she brings Jaeger’s Rendez-Vous collection to life through five rotating discs of animated charm.
Picture intricate discs spinning in harmony with celestial choreographies of birds, moons, and blooming flowers. It’s like watching time perform a synchronized ballet, and that’s not just poetic talk! Inspiration from watchmaking leaks into her work, as mother-of-pearl textures and guilloché patterns remind us of the quintessential roots of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s craftsmanship.
The Made of Makers project doesn’t stop at watches – it explores cross-disciplinary art by inviting geniuses like Wang to create at the crossroads between tradition and innovation. It’s an attempt to shake off the dust of classical art forms and give them new life and context alongside the brand’s storied timepieces. And in case you’re wondering, Wang’s five discs don’t just spin a good yarn; they explore concepts of feminine strength and evolution, capturing the essence of the Rendez-Vous collection.
By blending East-meets-West design and age-old craft with contemporary storytelling, Jackie Wang breathes motion and soul into still images. Whether it reflects a woman’s journey or captures the essence of watchmaking genius, ‘Drawn in Time’ challenges us to see tradition in motion. It’s a metaphorical poke in the ribs to say, ‘Hey, time is art!’
So, if you find yourself near Shanghai, swing by ‘The Dream Shaper’ exhibition and scope out the phenakisticopes in action – or as I like to call them, time’s hypnotic dance floors. As Jackie Wang’s discs twirl at a dainty 0.75 revolutions per second, Jaeger-LeCoultre reminds us that in the realm of watches and art, you really can make time fly.
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