Swatch recently released the grand finale of their Art Journey 2023 collection! Officially wrapping up the Art Journey 2023 collection, Swatch surprised fans with three new watches as part of an all-new Art Journey x Basquiat collaboration. In March, the brand teased that the then-secret fifth Art Journey instalment would “hit the sweet spot for street art fans”.
Living up to this promise, the new watches pay homage to trailblazing artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Basquiat was a Neo-Expressionist painter and graffiti artist who is widely regarded as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Marrying text to abstract drawing and painting, Basquiat used his work as a vessel for social commentary. Themes explored in his pieces include societal power structures, class struggle, as well his own experiences as part of the black community.
The collection develops upon Swatch’s historic relationship with the art industry, transforming Basquiat’s portfolio into wearable masterpieces. Each model in the collection measures 41 mm in diameter and 9.85 mm in thickness. Moreover, all watches are equipped with a quartz movement and splash resistance.
Swatch Art Journey 2023 X Jean-Michel Basquiat
Swatch Art Journey Swatch X Basquiat HOLLYWOOD AFRICANS SUOZ354
The first model in the new capsule collection celebrates one of Basquiat’s most renowned pieces, ‘Hollywood Africans’. Created whilst visiting Robert Rauschenberg in West Hollywood in 1983, the piece explores the era’s stereotypes of African American artists.
The painting spreads over the whole watch with each part focusing on a different detail. On the yellow dial, the primary focus is the three portraits. These figures depict Basquiat alongside fellow graffiti artists Toxic and Rammellzee, both of whom accompanied him on the trip to West Hollywood. Meanwhile, the silicone strap draws attention to more of the text on the piece. Black hour and minute hands overlay this design, and a red second hand stands out against the watch’s yellow base colour. To complement the blue accents of the painting, the underside of the strap is a bright blue colour. The plastic case is the same colour and gives the watch a blue outline that reflects Basquiat’s style.
Fastening the strap to the wrist is a plastic blue buckle which mirrors the case and underside of the strap. A matching strap loop accompanies this and has Jean-Michel Basquiat’s signature printed on it. Bright, eye-catching, and a celebration of Basquiat’s legacy, the watch is truly unlike any other out there.
Swatch Art Journey Swatch X Basquiat UNTITLED BY JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT SUOZ355
Next in the collection is a watch inspired by Basquiat’s ‘Untitled’ 1982. Although simplistic, the piece boldly depicts a crown painted in a classic expressionist style. This crown is a recurring symbol in Basquiat’s work and has become synonymous with the young artist’s strong ambition. With this in mind, this piece would make the perfect everyday motivator to stimulate you to fulfil your own ambitions.
Instantly recognisable as Basquiat’s, the crown motif forms the centrepiece of the dial design. A black plastic case frames the dial which is completed with minimalistic silver hands. Broken up by the black of the case, the silicone strap features more of the linework from the painting. In a similar fashion to the previous watch, the underside of the strap is plain black in colour. Mirroring this are the black plastic buckle fastening and strap loop, which displays the artist’s name.
Swatch Art Journey Swatch X Basquiat ISHTAR BY JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT SUOZ356
Named after the goddess of war and fertility, the painting behind this watch is quintessentially Basquiat. The artist had a fascination with mythology. In this piece, the pasted drawings across the painting read like hieroglyphics and are accompanied by words from Harold Bayley’s ‘The Lost Language of Symbolism’.
Contrary to the other watches in the Basquiat capsule collection, the dial is solid black in colour and features indices. Echoing the abstract fashion of the painting, the dial features a unique layout. The 12, 1, 2, 3 and 6 hour markers are written in the artist’s handwriting and have been extracted from his original artwork. Due to their size, these cluster together in the dial’s upper right-hand quadrant and give it an asymmetrically edgy finish. Contrasting this design are silver hour and minute hands, as well as one red accent second hand.
The silicone strap features the painting itself. Rich with detail and expression, the topside of the strap is balanced by its plain black underside. A black plastic buckle and Basquiat branded strap loop complete the strap’s design. A perfect statement timepiece for any art fan, the Ishtar watch will certainly land many compliments.
What do you think of the new surprise Swatch Art Journey X Basquiat collection? Which is your favourite? We want to hear your opinions down below.
