With Lunar New Year fast approaching on February 10, Hublot presents the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon, a limited edition timepiece inspired by the traditional Chinese art of paper cutting. Created in collaboration with renowned Chinese artist Chen Fen Wan, the watch combines the essence of tradition and modernity, incorporating metaphors and symbols that resonate with the spirit of Hublot.
Chen Fen Wan is a highly regarded artist who graduated from the Printmaking Department of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. Currently residing and working in Guangzhou, Foshan, she founded Wan Studio in 2014. Renowned as “the top post-90s paper artist” by the media, Chen Fen Wan’s artistic pursuits extend beyond paper-cutting, encompassing various mediums. With a distinct and romantic perspective, she seamlessly blends Chinese folk paper cuts with contemporary art, using the concept of “paper” as a means to explore and interpret a wide range of subjects.
The design of the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon pays homage to the revered eastern dragon, an iconic figure in Chinese culture associated with luck, strength, and wisdom. In 2024, according to the Chinese calendar, the Year of the Dragon returns, symbolizing prosperity and the cycle of life. This timepiece captures the essence of this celestial creature, embodying its significance and imperial iconography.
The intricate craftsmanship of the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon showcases Hublot’s commitment to the “Art of Fusion.” The components of the watch, including the hands, cogs, and screws, are positioned in multi-dimensional layers, forming a 3D silhouette of a dragon meticulously crafted by Chen Fen Wan through the art of paper cutting. The dragon’s head, composed of five layers alternating between hands, wheels, and H-shaped screws, extends into the body and scales that adorn the strap. The colors of the watch reflect the vibrant hues of the paper cut-out sculpture created by Chen Fen Wan.
Drawing inspiration from the traditional Chinese art of paper cutting, the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Titanium Dragon layers its hands, wheels and H-shaped screws to form a 3D silhouette of an eastern dragon. Hublot presents a rubber strap with a marquetry design for the very first time. Created in collaboration with the Chinese artist Chen Fen Wan, this limited edition of 88 pieces is the perfect fusion of tradition and modernity, combining metaphors and symbols in the spirit of Hublot: first, unique, different!
In the Chinese calendar, 2024 marks the return of the Dragon, which comes around every 12 years. This celestial creature, revered in Chinese culture, is associated with prosperity. A symbol of luck, strength and wisdom, the dragon is also an imperial icon that embodies life and immortality. Loong is a symbol, an icon, and the universal auspicious meaning is the foundation of Loong culture.
Equivalent to the year 4722 in the Chinese calendar, 2024 marks the year of the Wood Dragon. Through artist Chen Fen Wan’s paper-cutting expertise, Hublot pays homage to wood through the natural fibres that form the soul and spirit of paper.