Dubai recently saw the debut of ‘The Precision Pioneer’ exhibition by Jaeger-LeCoultre (Instagram) at ICD Brookfield Place in DIFC. This immersive showcase celebrated nearly two centuries of fine watchmaking and featured a stellar line-up of events and collaborations. One of the creatives at the heart of the opening night was Chinese qualified street light-painter Roy Wang (Instagram), whose mesmerizing light-painting artworks left guests spellbound.
The exclusive opening featured names such as R&B singer Zeyne and actor Moatasem Al Nahar. The night was a celebration of the vast number of skills mastered by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s artisans and also the reveal of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s latest timepiece.
The Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948 stands apart from the crowd thanks to its striking green enamel dial, representing a uniquely artistic interpretation of the world-time complication. This timepiece seamlessly blends mechanical excellence with exquisite handcrafts, including enamelling, guillochage, and lacquering. Its Universal Tourbillon completes a full circuit around the dial every 24 hours, mirroring Earth’s rotation on its axis and its journey around the Sun.
The audience was treated to a spectacular live light-painting performance by Wang, who unveiled four exclusive art pieces created specifically for Jaeger-LeCoultre. Wang’s performance, featuring his signature dragon motif showcased the skills and creativity involved in light-painting.
For those unfamiliar with light-painting, Wang provides a captivating description, “Light-painting art involves capturing and recording light’s trajectory through prolonged camera exposure. Although the process is invisible to the eye, it manifests in the image through the spatial and collected memory of the creator.” His unique approach, which he developed while spending time in Japan, is effectively painting in the air with light, intentionally creating sweeping shapes.
Wang’s artistic process is both intricate and intuitive. He explains, “I operate from behind the light so I cannot see what I’m doing directly. I rely on my imagination and anticipate the final drawing, which requires a lot of practice to precisely remember the movement of the light and the positioning of my body. In light painting, continuous practice of basic skills is essential. Through muscle memory, I can control my body and arms to master the trajectory of light.”
Wang reflects on how similar his art and watchmaking are, saying that, just like a watchmaker’s precision, “In our work, precision is paramount. Every aspect—creation time, parameter settings, painting position, and creative steps—must be executed with meticulous accuracy. Any mistake requires starting over. For watchmakers, their love for their craft drives them to create masterpieces. Similarly, I am passionately devoted to light painting art. We all strive for excellence in what we love.”
As Wang continues to push the boundaries of light-painting, his collaboration with Jaeger-LeCoultre stands as a shining example of how art and technology can intersect to create something truly extraordinary.
For more stories of art and culture, visit our dedicated archives.
