Audemars Piguet, a haute Horlogerie manufacturer, will present a work by Chinese artist Cheng Ran on their stand in the Collectors Lounge at Art Basel Hong Kong.

The work, entitled Circadian Rhythm, is part of a series of collaborations with artists giving expression to Audemars Piguet’s cultural and geographic origins. It represents the artist’s interpretation of the manufacture’s home in the Swiss Jura Mountains, reflecting the watchmaker’s sense of deep-rooted history, its connections with nature and commitment to creativity, innovation and independence.

Combining Audemars Piguet’s origins with his own visual world, Cheng Ran has created a video installation set in the Vallée de Joux which transports the viewer on a journey between landscape and soundscape, flowing seamlessly through water, mossy forests and inside the micro universe of watches. As the film unfolds, a subtle soundtrack of natural sounds intertwined with the mechanical ticks emanating from the heart of complicated watches blends with the sights of the picturesque forest and streams captured in the vicinity of Audemars Piguet’s home. The captivating sequence propels the viewer deep inside Cheng Ran’s universe, whilst also conveying the unique atmosphere of the natural setting that has, over generations, nurtured the Manufacture’s pioneering spirit.

Born in inner Mongolia in 1981, Cheng Ran is one of the most noteworthy members of a younger generation of Chinese artists. He is known for pushing the boundaries of video art through installations that borrow heavily from both Chinese and Western culture and history. Visual representations of time and space frequently replace narratives in his projects. In 2016 he was invited on a three-month residency at The New Museum in New York, in partnership with the K11 Art Foundation just before Audemars Piguet partnered with Cheng Ran in October 2016 when presenting his work at the Yuz Museum, Shanghai, in conjunction with the Audemars Piguet watch history exhibition To Break the Rules, You Must First Master Them.

Artist Cheng Ran said: “I was inspired by the artistry and attention to detail Audemars Piguet dedicates to creating one single timepiece. I hope viewers will enjoy the immersive excursion I have created through landscapes and soundscapes, transporting them through experimental types of media. I am thankful to have been given the chance to continue my journey with Audemars Piguet since the piece was presented in Shanghai at the end of last year.”

Olivier Audemars, vice president of the Board of Directors, said: “Audemars Piguet has pushed watchmaking boundaries ever since it was founded in 1875, a characteristic that is also fundamental to the production of great art. Through his video Cheng Ran reflects on the very heart of our craft and our connection to nature while managing to take the viewer on an unexpected journey. Circadian Rhythm combines both art and watchmaking into a single pulse, like two hearts beating in unison.” - TradeArabia News Service