Presenting Rado’s design collaboration with New Delhi artist duo Thukral and Tagra, the True Square “Over the Abyss”
Rado’s design collaboration with New Delhi artist duo Thukral and Tagra, the True Square “Over the Abyss”, highlights the importance of human connection and the shared passage of time
“RADO TRUE SQUARE “OVER THE ABYSS” TIMEPIECE UNDERSCORES SOMETHING THAT IS INTRINSIC TO HUMANS BUT OFTEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND OUR COMMUNITIES”
HAILING FROM INDIA, Jiten Thukral and Sumir Tagra form the art and design practice Thukral and Tagra. Their work, which primarily consists of paintings, sculptures and installations, is a manifestation of their vision of the future, both compelling and engaging. Their earlier work dealt with tropes of migration and motifs of a global consumer culture and their recent work has dealt with the interpretation of Indian mythological narratives and symbols.
Their 18-year trajectory and unique design eye have allowed them to participate in numerous exhibitions across the world and made them two of the most influential and sought-after Indian artists.
In their debut collaboration with Rado on the True Square, Thukral and Tagra explored our temporality as individuals and the importance of human connection, and created the True Square “Over the Abyss”, The designer timepiece underscores something that is intrinsic to humans but often taken for granted: the relationship between individuals and our communities. This is why their work is often described as social design. The duo always tries to understand their existence and questions the status quo, thus naming their work Over the Abyss.
The watch features a unique display of the time that superimposes the local time of the wearer to several time zones of the world. These different time zones are symbolised by 37 hands that are painted in a gradation of colours ranging from blue to pink, appearing like enchanting fireworks in the middle of the dial. Two discrete but mighty SuperLuminova dots indicate the local time.
The captivating dial with colour strikes is encapsulated in a 38mm mattblue, high-tech ceramic case of square shape with gently rounded corners, an homage to Rado’s iconic shape from the 1970s, updated for the 21st century. The case-back features a painting by the duo called Dominus Aeries, which explores visions from the future with references from the past. Therefore, both front and back are beautiful art expressions of Thukral and Tagra.
With the True Square “Over the Abyss”, Rado, together with Thukral and Tagra, aims to connect people through a timepiece that is universal, unique, not to mention highly technical and artistic.
What is your relation to time/watches?
Time is extremely powerful. There can be many ways to define time, with respect to how we operate as humans and what our belief system is. For us, it is a measure but also a teacher. It heals and it hurts at the same time. Whichever way one wants to see it, like a heartbeat, or melting ice, it stays as a marker in our lives.
How important are materials in your work as a designer?
The design is incomplete, if it doesn’t resonate with the right material. Or shall we say the material and intervention cannot be separated. It’s fascinating to see fresh perspectives, when we use an old material to make a new narrative.
What are your favorite designs, or key projects, from before?
We have been designing projects and making objects for over 18 years now, which intersect art, design, lifestyle and culture with a diverse range of associations with respect to branding, communications, products, immersive experiences, modules/ workshops, and artists’ collaborations.
Did you have any personal connection to Rado before this project?
As a consumer, we have been collecting and buying Rado watches for ourselves and our loved ones. Those timeless pieces feature sapphire glass, each holding a memory for us, made with utmost care and precision.
What is your design philosophy and how did you express it in the True Square?
Being aware of what is around and
finding ways to bring ideas to life. We are interested in experimentation, allowing new materials to walk in. Looking into the speculative future with strings attached, we try to paint a vision, which is both compelling and comforting.
What was your inspiration for the True Square “Over the Abyss”?
“Over the Abyss” is a meditative proposal. The deep state of mind in which thoughts float and multiply. Stuck in a novel of science fiction, we deal with an isolated space and time, particularly during this pandemic. The only silver lining of living in a moment is a fragility to form into a new one. A solitude state of mind. The memory of a community at a time when we all are experiencing isolation, and the reunion with our loved ones that we all fervently hope to happen soon.
What challenges did you face and how has the project enhanced your practice?
Working with different materials and keeping the balance were crucial to the realisation of our design. The biggest learning experience came from visiting the Rado manufacture and witnessing first-hand its extremely disciplined and precise operation.
What do you expect to achieve from this design collaboration with Rado?
The True Square “Over the Abyss” is based on Rado’s original True Square watch, which is made of Rado’s high-tech ceramic material. Being able to create our version of this watch is an opportunity to bring something unique to the experience of reading the time. We decided to have a watch with a lot more arms in order to feel connected with a lot more time zones and share this unique experience of viewing the time.
“OVER THE ABYSS” IS A MEDITATIVE PROPOSAL.
THE DEEP STATE OF MIND IN WHICH THOUGHTS FLOAT AND MULTIPLY. STUCK IN A NOVEL OF SCIENCE FICTION, WE DEAL WITH AN ISOLATED SPACE AND TIME, PARTICULARLY DURING THIS PANDEMIC”