AUDEMARS PIGUET CELEBRATES UNVEILING THE NEW LOUNGE FOR ART BASEL 2016 FAIRS AT ART BASEL IN HONG KONG

Swiss Haute Horlogerie brand Audemars Piguet kicked off 2016 by celebrating the unveiling of their new lounge for Art Basel’s 2016 shows at Art Basel in Hong Kong, with a VIP Party on Wednesday 23 March 2016. The party, attended by 600 guests, took place at Duddell’s in Central, Hong Kong. Renowned actress Sandra Ng, who has featured in over 100 movies in the Asia-Pacific region, visited the new lounge and attended the VIP Party. As an Audemars Piguet fan she owns several watches, including the Royal Oak 37mm self-winding with diamond bezel.
Olivier Audemars, Audemars Piguet’s Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, welcomed guests to the event saying: “As a proud global Associate Partner of Art Basel, we are very excited to be here and introducing these new designs. Since 2013, Audemars Piguet has presented innovative lounge concepts in the Collectors Lounge at all three Art Basel shows, inviting designers and artists to creatively interpret Audemars Piguet’s home in the Vallée de Joux. This year, we are thrilled to present new concept by Sebastian Errazuriz which takes inspiration from ice formations and the beautiful snowy winters there.”
After the speeches, guests had the opportunity to enjoy a water-based installation on an interactive floor, drawing from the water and ice theme of the new stand. Video projections created the impression of a ripple of water forming with each step, producing the feeling of walking on water. Cocktails were also served in an ice bar, in line with Errazuriz’s new ice cycle design.
At Art Basel in Hong Kong, Audemars Piguet also introduced Sun Xun as the second artist for the Audemars Piguet Art Commission. Considered one of China’s most talented rising young artists, Beijing-based Sun Xun’s artistic practice often combines painting, woodcuts, traditional Chinese ink and charcoal drawings to create stop-motion animated films. Sun Xun will work alongside the second guest curator of the Audemars Piguet Art Commission, Ruijun Shen, on a major new work that will be unveiled at Art Basel in Miami Beach 2016.
Also during Art Basel in Hong Kong, Audemars Piguet released The Art Projects of Audemars Piguet 2013-2015, a 115-page book summarizing the company’s growing engagement with contemporary art. With an introductory essay surveying the intertwining history of fine watchmaking and art, the richly illustrated volume includes texts, interviews, and documentation about Audemars Piguet’s manifold partnerships in the visual art world and about the exceptional artistic projects undertaken with the patronage and active involvement of the brand in recent years.
As global Associate Partner, Audemars Piguet continues to support Art Basel across all three of its shows—in Hong Kong, Basel, and Miami Beach. This multi-year partnership is a testament to both organisations’ shared commitment to creativity and Audemars Piguet’s strong will to continue promoting artistry and innovation.