Ukrainian artists Smith & Winken debuted their kinetic sculptures in ART SG 2024, thanks to The Hour Glass and MB&F

In the world where art meets mechanics, Ukrainian duo Smith & Winken – comprising Valeriy Kuznetsov (Smith) and Otto Winken – are redefining the ordinary. Together, the artists transform everyday materials like wood, textile, and metal into extraordinary kinetic sculptures. Their collection of over 20 hypnotic mechanical marvels, aptly named Endless Movement, redefine the boundaries of art. Smith & Winken’s take on kinetic sculptures is that they resonate with something eternal, that of movement and light. An alchemy of movement and form powered by meticulously designed (and surprisingly silent) electrical mechanisms, their creations invite one to view life through a different lens.

Seven kinetic sculptures from the Endless Movement series were on display at ART SG 2024, which was held at Marina Bay Sands from Jan19 to Jan 21. These included Hover, Gemini, Christopher, Flipper, Skipper, Tessen, as well as the latest one-of-a-kind piece created for the event, Spero. The largest art fair in Southeast Asia marked the duo's first showing in the region, thanks to the collaboration between MB&F and The Hour Glass, which was an associate partner for Art SG 2024 for the second consecutive year.

Kuznetsov, who was in Singapore for the fair, added: “It’s incredibly valuable for us to find like-minded people and we’re grateful that we can expand our audience through this partnership with MB&F and The Hour Glass. Each exhibition is an opportunity to convey our sense of inner freedom through our objects, which work better than a thousand words. This way, we can convey our emotions, stories and who we are – free people with a powerful culture and great potential for creativity.”

Judging from the crowd that gathered at the booth, the allure of these mechanical marvels was undeniable (we were told that Hover was sold right after the fair’s private preview). But the aim of the alliance between The Hour Glass and MB&F for the event was simple: To bring to ART SG a taste of the world’s first MB&F Lab – launched in partnership with the watch retailer – that opened in Raffles Singapore in 2022. An extension of the MB&F M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva, it boasts a hybrid retail experience in an intimate setting that showcases MB&F Machines alongside a curation of mechanical artworks. Michael Tay, group managing director of The Hour Glass said: “Together with MB&F Lab, we take immense pride in expanding the conversation surrounding kinetic art by exhibiting the works of Smith & Winken for the first time in Asia.”

A trailblazer in the horological and design spheres, MB&F’s founder Maximilian Busser recognised a kindred spirit in the artistic pair’s creative ethos. "When I first discovered Smith & Winken, I was irresistibly attracted and intrigued by their work. Their beautiful blend of mechanical and organic, analogue and technological, retro and futuristic, instantly resonated with me," he recalled. This meeting of creative minds led to the display of five Endless Movement artworks at the MB&F M.A.D.Gallery in Geneva.

It’s clear that Smith & Winken’s art underscores the synergy between the worlds of kinetic art and watchmaking. Busser said: “We are both decoding machines. However, achieving fluid movement is eminently more complex than giving information. Smith & Winken creates mechanical choreography.”

Indeed, Kuznetsov views the kinetic sculptures as poetry and not mere objects as they are alive. He speaks about his craft with such passion that one could say each original artwork is a labour of love with huge lashing of engineering genius. Everything is created from scratch: Eschewing the use of any design software, the artists still draw their blueprints manually. “It’s very symbolic that Maximilian appreciates our collection because they’re very aligned with MB&F timepieces, which aren’t just ordinary objects, but extraordinary pieces. And creations by Smith & Winken and MB&F push the limits,” Kuznetsov added.