Fleeting moments of eternity
“You may delay, but time will not,” Benjamin Franklin once said. This sentiment by the prominent inventor and political figure is aptly reflected in Hermes’ Orchestration of Time exhibition. The travelling display, which is travelling through France, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, is produced in collaboration with artist Eric Vernhes to showcase the new Slim d’Hermès watch line. Singapore marks its fourth stop on its world tour, after France, South Korea and Malaysia.
Upon entering the space, one is instantly struck by the still, almost silent music. The unchanging score provides a contrasting background to the incessant movement of the number displays and mechanisms. Yet, its high octave evokes a sense of unsettledness and anxiety, seemingly to remind us of the unrelenting passing of time. Hyper-modern digital screens are placed atop swinging pendulums, almost as a joint representation of the past and the present.
Amidst this, 11 Slim d’Hermès watches sit on display. Arranged to look like musical notes on a staff, their minimalist designs are paralleled by sleek lines of the digital tableaus. The timepieces, both feminine and masculine, feature the use of steel or rose gold, some set with diamonds, and others, not. Regardless, each punctuates the fluidity of music with its delicate appearance.
In our fast-paced world and time-starved era, time has truly become a luxury. As hours become minutes and minutes become moments, the progression of time may be the only eternity.
