ENJOY LIFE – This is the mantra that artist Shantell Martin has inscribed onto a unique Ressence TYPE 1 Squared, crafted for the TimeForArt 2024 auction.
Known for her monumental murals, like the one at the World Trade Center’s Oculus station, and live performances, Shantell Martin has made a mark in the art world through her diverse projects. She has held solo exhibitions at venues like the Rockefeller Center in New York City and the Vardan Gallery in Los Angeles. Martin has also ventured into unique collaborations, from choreographing for the Boston Ballet to creating a meditative walking path in Times Square. Her art extends into design with brands like Vitra and Max Mara. Now, she has accepted Ressence’s scale challenge to draw directly onto a watch dial.
Featuring a white dial and only black hands, carved into Ressence’s signature flush rotating discs, this special TYPE 1 Squared serves as the perfect blank canvas for Martin’s celebrated black-on-white drawings. Free from traditional hands, this watch reads time like words on paper, making its surface an ideal space for art and time to coexist.
Art in Motion
With just two words – Enjoy Life – this one-of-a-kind wristwatch invites the wearer to experience each moment, with the spontaneity and freedom of Martin’s fluid line. On a Ressence dial, Shantell’s signature line moves continuously, from abstraction to clear drawing and clear drawing to abstraction, presenting a dynamic ever-changing watch face. Alive, and always evolving, this unique dial reminds us that life is to be experienced, not controlled, or held back, and that the journey, not just the destination, is to be embraced.
TimeForArt Auction
The TimeForArt auction will benefit contemporary artists and support culture, making this project not just a piece of art but a contribution to the broader creative community. The second edition of this biennial auction, organized by New York’s non-profit Swiss Institute, will take place on December 7th, 2024, as part of the Phillips New York Watch Auction, in association with Bacs & Russo and under the hammer of auctioneer Aurel Bacs.
“We don’t see the final result as just a watch, but rather as a piece of art on your wrist. It’s a unique interaction between visual storytelling and mechanical ingenuity, where the simple act of telling time becomes an artistic expression,” says Benoît Mintiens, Founder of Ressence.
“Working with Shantell felt like a natural fit for us,” he continues. “Her minimalist approach, fluid lines, and the profound freedom of expression in her art resonate deeply with Ressence. Shantell’s work captures our ethos perfectly – it’s about being true to oneself, creating something that is striking and meaningful without shouting for attention.”
He concludes, “TimeForArt represents a unique opportunity to showcase how the worlds of watchmaking and contemporary art can intersect and inspire each other, a vision we share at Ressence.”
“I love that a watch can become, and is, in many ways a vessel for art, innovation, and connection. You can clearly see this with the Ressence brand, which is what makes this collaboration so special and unique;” says artist Shantell Martin.
