LOUNGE /
ART
December 21, 2020
The "Sound Maker" Exhibition by Contemporary Artist Zaiymoon, Expressing the Natural Sounds of the Vallée de Joux and the Manufacture's Legacy | JAEGER-LECOULTRE
JAEGER-LECOULTRE
New Installations by Contemporary Artist Zaiymoon and Rare Timepieces from Jaeger-LeCoultre on Display
Jaeger-LeCoultre presents "The Sound Maker" exhibition, an homage to the natural sounds of the Vallée de Joux and the legacy of its chiming timepieces. Featuring a new "sound sculpture" installation by Swiss contemporary artist Zaiymoon, commissioned by Jaeger-LeCoultre, alongside a selection of rare and unique timepieces from both historical and current collections, the exhibition traces the evolution of chiming mechanisms, from the highly sought-after Memovox alarm watch to the present day. Following its debut in Chengdu, China in 2020, the exhibition is set to tour globally in 2021.
Text by OZAKI Sayaka | Edit by TSUCHIDA Takashi
Works Expressing the "World of Sound" and Rare Timepieces from the Manufacture
Jaeger-LeCoultre has long celebrated the "art of sound" in watchmaking. The "THE SOUND MAKER" exhibition, offering an experience of its creative and cultural world, will tour globally from 2021.
The exhibition explores the unique and rich legacy of Jaeger-LeCoultre's chiming timepieces, paying homage to the Vallée de Joux, home to Jaeger-LeCoultre, its beautiful sounds, and the exceptional, innovative techniques cultivated over 150 years and passed down to watchmakers today.
At the heart of this exhibition, which expands the dialogue between watchmaking and art, is a new "sound sculpture" installation by Swiss contemporary artist Zaiymoon, commissioned by Jaeger-LeCoultre.
For this commission, Jaeger-LeCoultre invited Zaiymoon to the Vallée de Joux. There, he listened to the natural sounds of the valley and spent time with the artisans who craft chiming watches at the Manufacture. Through this experience, he created works that express the "world of sound" found within the Manufacture and its natural surroundings, inherent to the spirit of Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Titled "The Sound Maker," the work is based on a small DC motor, wires, MDF panels, and approximately 2,000 extremely thin metal discs, which are, in fact, watch components sourced from Jaeger-LeCoultre. Connected to the motor by wires, the discs rotate, creating highly complex acoustic effects akin to coins falling on the ground, while their movement casts subtle, continuous glints of light on the surface.
A clear parallel can be drawn between the artist Zaiymoon and the Manufacture's watchmakers in their ability to extract romantic worlds from materials and create stimulating sounds through complex systems of structure and mechanism. Just as the components of a watch movement seem to take on a life of their own when assembled, the industrially produced elements Zaiymoon combines in his sculptures create unique movements, generating novel sonic and visual effects.
Zaiymoon describes his work: "The wires holding the metal discs are bent by hand, so each one is slightly different, causing the metal discs to rotate at different angles and speeds. This creates a complex individuality that affects the appearance and acoustic properties of the work. The sound is very complex, and its subtle composition is constantly changing. Like the sound of a river, you never hear the same sound twice. A similar complexity arises visually… a shimmering light, like that seen on the surface of water."
This complex and evocative tapestry of sound and movement speaks to the natural phenomena of ambient sounds and sunlight reflecting on water, and ultimately appeals to the viewer's awareness of the deep connection between Jaeger-LeCoultre's watchmakers and their natural environment in the valley.
Catherine Rénier, CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre, praised the work: "I was first captivated by the soft, soothing sound of rain. As I drew closer, I was mesmerized by the movement of the metal. The different perspectives evoked different sensations, making me stop and look, and listen, again and again."
In addition to Zaiymoon's work, the "Sound Maker" exhibition showcases a selection of rare and unique timepieces from both Jaeger-LeCoultre's remarkable heritage of historical and current collections, alongside previously unseen documents and artifacts. It traces the evolution of chiming watches, from the most refined minute repeaters and complex grande sonneries to the highly practical and popular Memovox alarm watch, and new models from 2020.
The exhibition begins by revisiting some of the oldest and most historically significant LeCoultre chiming timepieces, several of which are being shown for the first time. Highlights include technical inventions and patents that established Jaeger-LeCoultre's global reputation, and the era when it was known as "the watchmaker's watchmaker" for supplying movements to famous watch brands. It also reveals the secrets behind the operation of chiming watches and the skills of the artisans who employ rare techniques to adorn these exceptionally precious timepieces.
The "Sound Maker" Exhibition
- Scheduled for global tour in 2021
