Audemars Piguet Announces New Art Exhibition

Rendering of an upcoming installation that will be presented by Audemars Piguet.

From October 28 to November 13, Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet will present its new exhibition at the Yuz Museum in Shanghai titled: “To Break the Rules, You Must First Master Them.”

Conceived by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur and enriched with artworks by renowned artists such as Cheng Ran, Dan Holdsworth and Alexandre Joly, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through Audemars Piguet’s history, its unique art of watchmaking and its engagements with the world of contemporary art.

The concept, conceived by French
designer Mathieu Lehanneur

Lehanneur designed a stunning architectural installation in the form of a large-scale ring with a copper finish. Structured around a rock created from cast replicas of those found in Audemars Piguet’s home in the Vallée de Joux, the space will be a tribute to the historical geography of the manufacture. Around it, twelve doors will open, each revealing a story about Audemars Piguet: from its origins to the 21st century, from watchmaking to contemporary art, from the Vallée de Joux to China.

“This exhibition is a reflection on time… a dreamy vision of time where each instant differs from the previous one. Here every door opens onto a new story,” says Mathieu Lehanneur.

Two hundred timepieces (vintage and contemporary) will be displayed across the 12 rooms within the ring, curated by Audemars Piguet’s Museum Director, Sébastian Vivas. This will be the largest collection of Audemars Piguet timepieces ever to be shown outside of the museum. The exhibition will also explore a selection of horological arts and crafts that the brand has mastered over the centuries.

After Shanghai, the exhibition will appear in other art capitals from 2017 onwards. Creative interpretations of fine watchmaking and contemporary art will be brought to global audiences, unveiling the innovation and artistry of Audemars Piguet’s savoir-faire. Building on a history now spanning more than 140 years, Audemars Piguet has found its way through ever-changing styles and eras. This exhibition will highlight the main milestones of this epic watchmaking story, while demonstrating the manufacturer’s unwavering loyalty to its core philosophy: “To break the rules, you must first master them.”