FIAC : Vacheron Constantin presents the « Arts & Crafts & Design. Time according to Alessandro Mendini and his craftsmen» exhibition

As a Fiac partner for the first time, Vacheron Constantin will present the « Arts & Crafts & Design. Time according to Alessandro Mendini and his craftsmen» exhibition, from October 23 to 27, 2013.

The artistic crafts are part of the Vacheron Constantin tradition. Since 1755, the year when Jean-Marc Vacheron founded the Manufacture by signing a first apprenticeship contract through which he committed to sharing his knowledge, Vacheron Constantin has never ceased to support and spread its exclusive know-how beyond its frontiers.

Conscious that these crafts suffer from transmission, promotion and comprehension problems, Vacheron Constantin has supported and developed actions in favor of artistic excellence for many years.

With the « Arts and Crafts and Design. Time according to Alessandro Mendini and his craftsmen» exhibition, which includes thirteen works, Vacheron Constantin creates a dialogue between the universe of fine watchmaking, the design and the artistic crafts around the theme of Time.

These works, designed by Alessandro Mendini were created by acclaimed Italian craftsmen, using thirteen different materials: the dialogue between the artist, the designer and the master craftsman, between the developer and the interpreter, translates the vitality of an economic, productive and cultural system. Its heritage is still present today. The cultural ambition of the exhibition is to highlight the fundamental role, played by artistic crafts in our society, including them in a permanently evolving dialogue with contemporary creation. Each piece carries the signature of Alessandro Mendini and the craftsman who designed it.

Within the framework of its cultural patronage policy, Vacheron Constantin has committed to transforming this project into a travelling exhibition, present in contemporary art and design reference locations and events. At the end of these exhibitions, the artworks will be sold in favor of a project or an organization supporting artistic crafts. « Arts and Crafts and Design. Time according to Alessandro Mendini and his craftsmen» has already been showed at the Ecole d’Art et de Design de Lausanne (ECAL) and the Superstudio in Milan, during the Artistic Crafts European days 2013 edition and the Salone Internationale Del Mobile.

With a desire to be open to the world and support creativity, the Manufacture is happy to present the exhibition in the prestigious context of the Fiac, international window on contemporary art.

About Vacheron Constantin

Founded in 1755 in Geneva, Vacheron Constantin is the oldest watchmaking manufacture in the world with an uninterrupted activity over the past 250 years. Founders of the very spirit of the precious and technical fine watchmaking, the men and women of Vacheron Constantin continue to design, develop and produce exceptional timekeepers, remaining close to the three fundamentals of the brand: perfectly mastered technique, harmonious and inspired aesthetics and an extremely high level of finishing touches.

Vacheron Constantin in Paris

Vacheron Constantin opened its first Parisian boutique in the beginning of the year, at the 2, rue de la Paix, a new treasure for exceptional watches.

Vacheron Constantin supporting the world of Arts and Culture

The Manufacture has shown its interest in developing partnerships throughout the world of arts and culture. Among others, its partnership with the Opéra national de Paris since 2007, the New York City Ballet, its support since 2011 to actions organized by the Institut National des Métiers d’Art (INMA) and in particular the European Artistic Crafts Days and its commitment to the Orchestre de la Suisse romande and the Fondation Culturelle Musée Barbier-Mueller.