I checked out Hermes The Gift of Time exhibition over the weekend before it leaves for Lille, France. The exhibition is dedicated to its theme of the year – the gift of time.
Presented in collaboration with American artist Hilton McConnico who is also a scenographer, poet and long-time partner of Hermès, “The Gift of Time” exhibition chronicles the famed beginnings of the Hermès story revolving around Time, Hermès’ theme of 2012. Visitors will walk through a series of non-static installations and shadow boxes, while discovering Time as illustarted by Hermès and Hilton McConnico.
Beautiful murals on the walls of the now-defunct Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
Imagerys of the horse in different galloping positions.
The exhibit depicts the origin of time with the light and sundial moving in an anti-clockwise direction, as if going back in time. The sun dial casted a shadow of a horse, reminds us the the first role of light is to make the dark more beautiful, and not to measure days and time. Very poetic isn’t it?
“Hermès time does not try to master time but rather offers us the time to see and understand this ever changing world.” –Hilton McConnico
Captions in various languages reminding us to slow down and take time to appreciate everything in life.
Hermès Arceau Le temps suspendu (Time Suspended) watch display.
Tick tock, tick tock..
The Arceau watch, suspended in mid air.
The watch, behind the magnifying glass.
The Arceau Le temps suspendu time piece, suspends time. By pressing the pusher at 9 o’clock, time stops and the hour and minute hands displays the impossible time. At the same time, the date indicator disappears.
The watch continues to keep track of time until you’re ready to stop dreaming and come back to the present.
Hermès makes horse saddles too. Hermes is also designing the riding jackets to be worn by both the French Olympic 2012 Equestrian show-jumping and eventing team. The piece has been tailored using a light, flexible technical fabric, enabling the players to move comfortably.
TIME BALANCE – Night after Night, the top span and danced on the table to the rhythm of a beating heart, tracing its circle with the precision, patience and pace of the second hand on a clock face.
It is a top spinning on its axis surrounded by a fragile dinner service on a table laid for 6.
A spinning top made from Hermès tableware.
STROKE OF TIME – The polished Hermès Torpèdo leather bag is handcrafted and as time goes by, it gets weathered and worn which is depicted by the Hermès toolbox bag attached to a pendulum striking it as each second passed.
The not-so-underlying message that Hermès was trying to convey: Hermès bags really do withstand the test of time.
A parrot made from recycled Hermès leather.
Touch and feel the Cat mosiac in different Hermès leather, grain and texture.
IMAGINARY TIME –Who ? When ? How ? Where ? STOP. Escape into the imaginary, for a moment.
Hermès scarf
Hermès stopwatch
A windmill made with Hermès eclat leather (alligator and togo calf leather)
Hermes 2012 “The gift of time”, highlights the excellence reflected in the consummate skills of craftsmen saddlers, meticulous precision of watchmakers, virtuosity of the engravers and the dedication to quality of all artisans and designers. Without time, nothing lasting or beautiful could be brought into being.
A momento from Hermès, which is of the same great quality as the Hermès pouch for my Hermès Jypsiere’s leather strap.
You will be issued with one to keep your mobile phones and watch while in the exhibition. So you can get lost in time. 🙂
You will get the chance to write a message on an Hermès postcard and Hermès will post it out for you, regardless the destination.
After going through the exhibite, do head out to the platform where nostalgic selection of food and snacks are sold.
Enjoy your food at these tables and chairs shaped like trains in the signature Hermès orange colour.
The strawberry orange banana popsicle. SGD4.
Tastes like freshly squeezed fruit juice popsicle without added sugars nor artificial flavourings.
The Hermès “The Gift of Time” Exhibition at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station will be ongoing till 12th August 2012 before it leaves for Lille, France, from 11am to 9pm daily. Admission is free.
Stacey says... 