Baselworld 2016: Heritage Bubble Dani Olivier - Abstract and psychedelic nudes

Baselworld 2016: Heritage Bubble Dani Olivier - Abstract and psychedelic nudes

Corum has reproduced the striking, artistic nude portraits by French photographer Dani Olivier on its iconic Bubble wristwatch in a pair of limited editions that bring photographic art to the wrist.

An acclaimed, Paris-based photographer, Dani Olivier specializes in “abstract and psychedelic nudes”, human bodies covered in striations of coloured light. In a collaboration that began in 2015, Corum has miniaturized Olivier’s art, transferring two of his most distinctive photographs onto a watch dial.

Incredible as they are, Olivier’s portraits are real photographs - not the result of digital manipulation. Olivier accomplishes the effects by projecting light patterns onto nude bodies set against a jet-black background, creating completely surreal forms.

Using high resolution printing, Corum has exactly reproduced two of Olivier’s photographs on the dials of its Bubble wristwatch. Like the original, full-size portraits, these miniaturized, wrist-borne works of art seem dreamlike, akin to a scene from a science fiction movie. But up close the details of the human body are visible, a reminder of the corporeal foundations of Olivier’s work.

Care has been taken to ensure that the Bubble is a fitting canvas for Olivier’s art, with even the Corum key logo at three o’clock being applied in the same vivid colours as the portraits. And the rhodium-plated hands have been filled with matte black lacquer, allowing them to stand out enough to be legible, while not distracting from the artwork behind. And to match the deep black background of Olivier’s portraits, the signature, 47 mm Bubble watch case has been coated in black PVD.

Both of the Bubble Dani Olivier editions are limited to just 88 watches each, with the final, 88th timepiece in each edition being a one-off, unique piece. The 88th wristwatch features the same artwork on the dial, but is distinguished by a striking red gold bezel that serves as a frame for Olivier’s photographs.