The Art of Space & Time

Japanese artist Takashi Murakami speaks about his design for Hublot’s MP-15, aluminous, playful sapphire creation of his smiling flower” motif—and also fills usin on his upcoming plans.

-  SALONI DHRUV

BEFORE TAKASHI MURAKANI walks into the boardroom of the Raffles Hotel, a 136-year-old heritage bungalow turned hotel in Singapore, everyone is buzzing with the expectation that the Japanese artist will resemble his iconic smiling flower motif, which is eccentric, colourful, and to state the obvious, smiling. But the 61-year-old rushes in the room trailed by hushed tones and wearing a neutral outfit that echoes the essence of his latest collaboration with Hublot-a watch that recreates Murakami's iconic flower motif with 12 petals made entirely of sapphire.

Later, when I hold the watch in my hand, I examine its transparent contours. The floral shape of the limited-edition MP-15 is not just playful and quirky but also a luminous display of the Swiss luxury watchmaker's craft, fusing the case, movement, and dial in a unique arrangement. Devoid of any colour, a challenge that got Murakami excited about exploring the idea of absolute transparency, the watch features a novel interpretation of the visual effects of sapphire. It is also Hublot's first series-produced central flying tourbillon.

Back in the boardroom, Murakami settles in front of a room full of journalists and fans before he shares his existential idea of time, leaving everyone amused. "When you go to an art museum, all the pieces hanging up have been made by dead people. My relationship with time is about making pieces for a future audience," he says, switching between English and Japanese.