Swatch has launched three watches inspired by the works of Basquiat

A collection of Swatch, the famous Swiss watches, inspired by the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Indeed, May saw the release of the fifth capsule collection of Swatch Art Journey, Swatch’s art-related project that this time draws inspiration from the New York artist’s paintings from the early 1980s. The Swatch x JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT collection is a tribute to the great street artist who shattered conventions and made the street art subculture a full-fledged art form.

The collection consists of three watches and a special set that aim to capture Basquia’s signature style to pay homage to the artist’s original compositions and bold spirit.

The first watch in the collection is Hollywood Africans, which captures Basquiat’s original 1983 work of the same name about the many stereotypes regarding African Americans in the entertainment industry and American society in general. The vibrant yellow dial showcases three key figures: the artist himself, rap musician Rammellzee, and painter Toxic, who traveled with Basquiat from New York. And, as in all his work, text, images and abstract symbols combine to generate energetic multiplication.

Ishtar, the second watch, is named after the Mesopotamian goddess of fertility and war, while the combination of writing and Roman numerals on the painting occupies the entire black dial. The strap bears several elements of the original, including historical references and depictions of faces prevalent among his works.

Finally, the third watch, Untitled, carries the famous three-pointed crown motif, a kind of Basquiat’s signature, drawn with large black stripes that emerge on the original 1982 canvas, perfectly matched to the black case and black loop. The final touch is Jean-Michel Basquiat’s signature at the bottom of the strap.

For the collection’s promotional campaign, Swatch linked Basquiat’s art to today’s urban culture represented by skating and BMX. Proteam Swatch athletes, professional skateboarder and world champion Andy Anderson and nine-time MBX world champion Matthias Dandois show the synergy between art and sport as they speed through city streets with the collection’s watches on their wrists. The cost of the watches? 105 euros each.

Swatch has launched three watches inspired by the works of Basquiat

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.