The floating pavilion and the art installation next to it will be open to the public until February 23
At Watches & Wonders in 2022, Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre paid a spectacular tribute to the night sky and its wonders with an exhibition titled The Stellar Odyssey. Nearly a year later, Dubai has been chosen as the first stop on the exhibition’s tour of major world cities. The exhibition, which was opened to the public on February 4, is set up in a pavilion floating on the waters of the Dubai Fountain, with Burj Khalifa as its backdrop.
Jaeger-LeCoultre, which is known for its incredibly elaborate complications that capture cosmic phenomena onto their mechanical watch dials, says the exhibition is their homage to the astronomical events that lie at the origins of time measurement. “The Stellar Odyssey is a deeply immersive experience, inviting you to explore the wonders that we can observe in our night sky and their symbiotic relationship with the art of watchmaking,” said Catherine Rénier, CEO of the Swiss Maison, after officially opening the exhibition in Dubai. “Because the ancient cultures of the Middle East played a seminal role in the origins of time measurement, we are truly honoured to begin the world tour of this exhibition here in Dubai,” she added.
The exhibition showcases a meticulously curated selection of the watchmaker’s most significant historic timepieces as well as its most recent celestially-inspired timepieces. At the centre of the exhibition hall, there is a geodesic dome that takes visitors on a virtual journey through space and 13.7 billion years of time in five episodes – from the beginning of time to the beginning of celestially inspired watchmaking traditions. Visitors can also get insights into the art of watchmaking at the Atelier d’Antoine, named after the Maison’s founder, Antoine LeCoultre, where hands-on educational workshops based on the Stellar Odyssey theme will be conducted.
As part of the Stellar Odyssey experience, Jaeger-LeCoultre has flown in acclaimed mixologist Matthias Giroud to create a special menu of mocktails. The mocktails that fuse celestial inspiration with ingredients brought from Jaeger-LeCoultre’s home in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux will be offered to visitors during the 20 days of the exhibition.
Right outside the exhibition’s entrance is an art installation titled ‘Passengers: Through Time’ by French visual artist, Guillaume Marmin. The installation, which makes its world debut in Dubai, has been specially commissioned by Jaeger-LeCoultre, with its endless reflections inviting visitors to reflect on what time really is. “Jaeger-LeCoultre’s celestial theme resonates very strongly with me because, working with light and sound, we are at the crossroads of scientific, artistic, philosophical, even mystical questions,” said Marmin. “I also have a strong desire to take art out of the galleries and to invest in the public space, so it’s a great privilege to invite a wider public to experience my art as part of The Stellar Odyssey.”
The Stellar Odyssey exhibition will be open until February 23rd, from 2:00 pm to 12:00 am on weekdays, and from 2:00 pm to 1:00 am on weekends, at the Dubai Fountains (Dubai Mall Cinema Parking, lower ground entrance near Bateel) Downtown Dubai. The exhibition is open to the public with free admission.