A Colourful CONNECTION

Tate Gallery joins the latest chapter of Swatch Art Journey, bringing seven new maestros into the fold and onto the wrist

- YONG WEI JIAN

There's a certain power when looking at masterpieces in the real. To be awed by the sheer scale and ambition of the work. To see the sweep of the artist's hand and be surprised by the boldness of the brushstrokes. To experience the colours, textures and imperfections viscerally. It's electric. But great art usually resides on the walls of world-famous galleries; you're going to have to go on an excursion just for the encounter.

Swatch Art Journey liberates these renowned artworks by putting them on the wrist. In doing so, everyone can access these icons and experience a portion of their magic around the clock. The latest chapter of the art-watch series brought us to the fabulous Tate Modern in London, where we got to view up-close two of the pieces featured: Two Women Holding Flowers (1954) by Fernand Léger and The Snail (1953) by Henri Matisse. It is of course glib to say that the watches hold the same essential experience as communing with the originals, but the spirit of the references is present and more than faithful. LEGER'S TWO WOMEN-HOLDING FLOWERS focuses on the figures and energetic colour overlays, while MATISSE'S SNAIL captures the considered composition of colours on a transparent strap.

Indeed, colour is the lynchpin of the new Swatch X Tate Gallery collection. TURNER'S SCARLET SUNSET makes creative use of the calendar wheel to shift the sun's shade every day, while CHAGALL'S BLUE CIRCUS brings the spectacle of the big top to life with a balancing act that props a moon and an eye at the ends of the hour and minute hands. On both the Barns-Graham and Miró models, hour markers are printed on the glass to add depth and dimension to their striking dials. Finally, the hypnotic BOURGEOIS'S SPIRAL is enabled with SwatchPAY! (in selected markets) to facilitate payments at the flick of the wrist.