Legacy Machine N°1 Xia Hang: A Creation Born in the M.A.D.Gallery
Legacy Machine N°1 Xia Hang: A Creation Born in the M.A.D.Gallery
After working for nearly 45 hours without a break, it's been a long tiring day and energy levels are low. While it was relatively easy to sit up straight at the start of the day, fatigue has now set in, back languidly bends, head hits lap. 'Mr. Up' has become 'Mr. Down'. But before Mr. Down shuts off completely, an invigorating influx of energy lifts his head, straightens his back and brightens his spirits. Mr. Up has been brought back to life!
Welcome to the world of Legacy Machine N°1 Xia Hang. Welcome to the world of Mr. Up and Mr. Down, a collaboration between MB&F and Chinese artist Xia Hang.
Legacy Machine N°1 Xia Hang (LM1 Xia Hang) retains all of the 19th century pocket watch-inspired features of the original LM1, including the majestically suspended slowly oscillating balance wheel and dual time indications that can be set completely independently, but with a twist: the power reserve is indicated by a miniature, highly-polished aluminium man, designed by talented Chinese sculptor, Xia Hang. The man sits up straight when the movement is fully wound (Mr. Up) and gradually slumps over as the power diminishes (Mr. Down).
Legacy Machine N°1 Xia Hang is a limited edition of 12 pieces in red gold and 12 pieces in white gold. Each Machine is accompanied by a pair of stainless steel sculptures: large-scale versions of Mr. Up and Mr. Down signed by Xia Hang.
XIA HANG
Xia Hang was born in 1978 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. He started painting when he was just 10 years old and went to art college in 1997. In 2002 Xia Hang graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts in China.
His graduation work was a cluster of comma-shaped men made from mirror-polished stainless steel, the first of the highly distinctive forms that have now culminated in the power reserve indicator of Legacy Machine N°1. Xia Hang also graduated with a Masters of Fine Art from the Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in China.
Since he began sculpting, Xia Hang has had an affinity for steel, drawn to it by its strength and high polish. He explains, "I have always been interested in metal. Perhaps I am drawn to the shine of metal and its durability. Metal is much stronger than stone or wood, yet it is still very malleable. I think that the changeable dynamics of metal are similar to the characteristics of humans. This is why I choose to work with metal."
Xia Hang believes that his sculptures should be considered like toys. He wants people to touch his art, to play with it. Highlighting this philosophy, Hang’s 2008 exhibit was called “Please don’t touch”, with the “don’t” crossed out. While we may view Xia Hang’s creations as aliens, he sees them as babies. Fat babies.
THE COLLABORATION
MB&F founder and creative director Maximilian Büsser was first introduced to Xia Hang a few years ago by a Chinese art collector friend, and visited Hang on the outskirts of Beijing in his workshop. “I was like a child in a toy factory!” says Büsser, who quickly proposed that the artist present some of his work at the MB&F M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva. Hang jumped at the chance. "When I first met Max he was wearing a HM3 and I loved the playful sculptural nature of it. Through him, I learnt that watches could also be very creative. I admire Max's passion in finding artists who share similar tastes and the MB&F M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva is one of my favourite art galleries in the world. " Xia Hang.
The rapport struck up between Hang and MB&F led to him collaborating on Legacy Machine No.1 Xia Hang. LM1 Xia Hang retains all of the 19th century pocket watch-inspired features of the original LM1, but with a twist: The power reserve is now indicated by a tiny, highly-polished aluminium comma man designed by Xia Hang. The man sits up straight when the movement is fully wound (Mr. Up) and gradually slumps over as the power diminishes (Mr. Down). LM1 Xia Hang is accompanied by a pair of full-size sculptures of Mr. Up and Mr. Down in polished stainless steel and signed by the artist.
"Legacy Machine N°1 Xia Hang is the first time (and hopefully not the last) that there has been a cross-pollination between a MB&F M.A.D. Gallery artist (Xia Hang) and a MB&F watch (LM1). In curating these amazing artists at our M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva, it opens a world of possibilities in possible co-creations with MB&F's Machines" Maximilian Büsser.