Watchmakers: The Masters of Art Horology, is an international traveling exhibition of watches by 13 of the world’s best independent watchmakers and horologists. This special exhibition of horological art was created by Rome’s Maxima Gallery at the behest of gallery director Claudio Proietti.

Proietti had been curating and managing some of the world’s largest private collections of modern and contemporary art in Europe for decades when he discovered the watches of Mr. Daniel Roth (Jean Daniel Nicolas), Kari Voutilainen, and F.P. Journe, which led to the realization that these master watchmakers were no different from the artists on display in his galleries.

From ‘Watchmakers: The Masters of Art Horology’ clockwise from top left: Jean Daniel Nicolas (Mr. Daniel Roth), George Daniels, Roger Smith, and Hajime Asaoka

Intrigued to learn more about a fascinating genre of art that had hitherto escaped him, Proietti met with as many of these masters as he could. One thing led to another and with early support by Kari Voutilainen, “Watchmakers: The Masters of Art Horology” was born.

From ‘Watchmakers: The Masters of Art Horology’ clockwise from top left: Kari Voutilainen, Ludovic Ballouard, Laurent Ferrier, and Philippe Dufour

Rare indeed are opportunities to look at such a variety of timepieces of this caliber, virtually side by side. If you time it right (or lobby for it), you may even meet a creator or two.

Kari Voutilainen
Philippe Dufour
Jean Daniel Nicolas/Mr. Daniel Roth
Vianney Halter
Christophe Claret
De Bethune/Denis Flageollet
Hajime Asaoka
Romain Gauthier
Roger W. Smith
Ludovic Ballouard
Laurent Ferrier
Christian Klings
George Daniels

From ‘Watchmakers: The Masters of Art Horology’ clockwise from top left: De Bethune, Romain Gauthier, Vianney Halter, and Christophe Claret

The exhibition launches in Rome at the Maxima Gallery on April 6, 2018 with a vernissage featuring many of the horological artists featured.

Rome
April 6 to 15 – MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Arts

New York
April 26 to 30 – Phillips Gallery, 450 Park Avenue

Hong Kong
May 24 to 29 – Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Road Central

London
June 19 to 26 – Phillips Gallery, 30 Berkeley Square, Mayfair

The excellent photography of the watches in the exhibition is by Guy Lucas de Peslouan/Art Sight.

And there is a beautiful coffee table book commemorating the exhibition.

‘Watchmakers: The Masters of Art Horology’ exhibition

For more information, please visit www.maximagallery.com/en/mostre/watchmakers-the-masters-of-art-horology.

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