Swatch Art Peace Hotel Manifesto

Art is the greatest luxury of all

The Swatch Art Peace Hotel artist residency is designed to bring together talented artists from around the world to experience a unique cultural environment dedicated to contemporary art. Selected artists are invited to live and work in specially designed apartments and workshops for a period of 3 to 6 months, in a community of 18 people from all artistic horizons and national origins. By bringing together the creators of art – the greatest luxury of all – along with leading Swatch Group watch brands in a prestigious setting, the Swatch Art Peace Hotel aims to situate art at the very heart of an urban space dominated by luxury goods.
 

The Swatch Art Peace Hotel artist residency offers artists, who are shaping the luxury of the future, the opportunity to counteract isolation and to develop creative exchange by living and working together in a dedicated environment in one of Shanghai’s most prestigious locations. Two floors have been reserved for this purpose in a legendary landmark building in Shanghai, China. Under a concept developed by Swatch Group, the former Palace Hotel (later known as the Peace Hotel South Building) has been restored to its former splendor. Now known as the Swatch Art Peace Hotel, it is located directly on the Bund, once the heart of old Shanghai and today the luxury mile in one of the biggest and most dynamic cities in the world.
 

Art and its propagation are of intrinsic importance to Swatch. The link between watches and the luxury of art was first introduced by Swatch with its concept of “the world’s smallest canvas”. While making art accessible to everyone, the concept also associated the traditional Swiss art of watchmaking represented by such notable brands as Blancpain and Omega with the exclusive prestige of a commissioned work of art.
 

The Swatch Art Peace Hotel artist residency welcomes every kind of artistic expression, style and medium. Artists are under no obligation with respect to the organization or nature of the work undertaken during their residency. They are free to engage in individual or joint projects and to work according to their own schedule and plans. All participants will be asked to leave an artistic “trace” of their visit at the end of their residency, but will be completely free to choose how to do so.
 

The project’s main focus is on creative exchange. Artists are encouraged to engage in collaborative work and discussion and to interact as a dynamic artistic community so as to enrich the creativity of the group as well as each other’s work. Communication, confrontation, observation and discovery should challenge the artists and enable them, in this vibrant artistic and cultural environment, to build upon their existing skills and extend the boundaries of their art.