In the latest addition to the collaborative Made of Makers programme by Jaeger-LeCoultre, the watchmaking house celebrates the passage of time through the eyes of Khalid Shafar, who reinterprets the maison’s celestial movements through the lunar cycle of Ramadan.
The Made of Makers programme is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s way of combining the worlds of horology and art, collaborating with artists, designers, and craftsmen from outside the world of watchmaking to reinvent the way classical art is seen into something dynamic and inventive. This time, Khalid Shafar brings his unique design style and Middle Eastern artistry to add a new dimension to the programme’s global community.
For Jaeger-LeCoultre, Shafar presents Crescent To Crescent, an evocative art installation that spans six metres, embodying the passage of time through the evolution of the moon. Inspired by the rhythm of Ramadan, where precise moments of sunrise and sunsets are sacred parts of the monthly fasting and prayer, Shafar brings to life the entire lunar cycle of the month with his artwork.
29 uniquely designed moons make up the pieces, each engraved with delicate details that honour Jaeger-LeCoultre’s craftsmanship – like engravings that mirror the guilloché decorative technique that JLC artisans mastered in its Métiers Rares atelier.
“The moon. This celestial body is a powerful force, influencing tides, guiding natural cycles and inclining countless aspects of life on earth. For centuries, the sight of the new crescent moon has heralded the beginning of Ramadan,” says Khalid Shafar. “When Jaeger-LeCoultre invited me to create an art installation in honour of this sacred time, I sought to capture the profound rhythm of time itself, drawing inspiration from the lunar cycle. I immersed myself in La Grande Maison’s enduring fascination with celestial phenomena – a passion nurtured by the enchanting night sky of La Vallée de Joux and brought to life in watchmaking masterpieces.”
The artwork offers two viewing options, each offering a unique experience. The first features a colour gradient that moves across the piece, while the other offers a dynamic play of light that moves with the viewers across the space. Both brings to life the Swiss maison’s mission to reinvent and honour classical art as a source of infinite creative inspiration.
Khalid Shafar’s Crescent To Crescent is available to view and interact with throughout the month of Ramadan in the Dubai Mall Grand Atrium, before moving around the city later in the year.
Learn more about Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Made of Makers programme here. Then, head here to read more about watches.