Art Edition and High Precision, Europa Star Premiere October 2023

 

Atelier WOCS, Art Edition and High Precision

In the heart of Geneva, on Molard Square, an artisanal gem finds its place amidst the luxury watch boutiques and the bustling restaurants and cafes. The Atelier WOCS, established by Robert Topulos in 2018, is a workshop where creativity blooms under the trained hands of an artist from HEAD (Geneva School of Art and Design). Through his exquisite works, Robert revives a deeply cherished Swiss tradition: the art of poster making. The reminiscent charm of Belle Époque art, advocating the allure of winter sports in the Alpine heights, echoes through his creations.

Rekindling this time-honored tradition, the designer ingeniously blends his illustrations with his other ardent passions, namely watchmaking and aviation. The workshops, situated a mere stroll away from the Geneva Campus of Haute Horlogerie, are realms of precision and meticulousness, with some creations demanding over 350 hours of dedicated craftsmanship. The essence of innovation is ingrained in every piece, crafted through a unique method known as Etorie®. This technique utilizes natural pigment ink resilient to fading, applied onto archival-quality art paper. The method unfolds a spectrum of deep and saturated hues, achieving a color vibrancy unattainable by conventional lithography or silkscreen techniques.

As we delve deeper, we give carte blanche to Robert Topulos, allowing him a free rein to narrate the essence and intricacies of some of his masterpieces.

 

«This piece, unveiled during the Geneva Watch Days 2023, emerges as a vibrant intersection between the golden age of aviation and modern horological excellence. A DC-3 airplane, a symbol of grand classicism, navigates gracefully across the sophisticated dial of the Patek Philippe 5531R-012 World Time. The Swiss insignia on the airplane, HB-COT, subtly pays homage to Louis Cottier, the visionary behind the World Time mechanism, encapsulating the narrative of pioneering spirits transcending eras. With a nod to Noel Fontanet's Time is Money from 1935, this work shifts paradigms. Here, time is neither a commodity nor a currency; it is a legacy.»

2) Paul Newman, Le Mans Race 1979
Unique piece, bespoke artwork

«It was behind the wheel of a Porsche 935, one of the most significant models in the brand's history, that the legendary actor and driver Paul Newman participated for the first time in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 9 and 10, 1979, alongside his teammates Dick Barbour and Rolf Stommelen. An intriguing historical fact about this Porsche is its sponsorship in 1980 by Apple Computers, an unprecedented alliance between racing and technology, making it the only race car ever backed by tech giants. Beyond being a Hollywood celebrity, Paul Newman transcended his fame in the realm of horology in 2017, when his 1968 Rolex Daytona set a record at Phillips in New York, selling for a staggering amount of 17.8 million dollars in the span of 12 minutes.»

3) Gstaad Palace, Bentley Anniversary
 

«Inspired by the vintage chocolate advertisements from the Belle Époque era and referencing the Art Deco movement through the use of color blocks and dominant elements in the composition, this work stands as a unique piece in the collection. Built in 1913, Gstaad Palace has garnered an unmatched reputation over the years for its discreet and refined hospitality, consistently welcoming a discerning international clientele. The artwork features an iconic single-seater, the Bentley Pacey-Hassan from 1936. The vehicle dominated the races of its time, reaching speeds of up to 205 km/h (127 mph). The choice of red for the racing car pays homage to the famous "Gstaad" poster from 1934 by Swiss artist Alex Walter Diggelmann.»

 

 

«The Latécoère 631, a crown jewel of aviation, holds the distinction of being the last seaplane used on a commercial transatlantic route. In the 1950s, it was deployed in commercial service on some of the longest air routes departing from Europe. With 54 passengers on board, the 'Laté' could fly at a top speed of around 400 km/h (about 248 mph), and boasted a range of over 6,000 kilometers (about 3,728 miles), sufficient, for instance, to connect Geneva to New York. It usually cruised at an altitude of around 2,500 meters (about 8,202 feet) with an operational speed ranging between 280 and 300 km/h (about 174 to 186 mph). The sixth model built by Latécoère is depicted here as it prepares to alight on the harbor of Geneva on June 12, 1948. The seaplane departs Geneva two days later, on June 14. Its remarkable visit drew a crowd to the lakeside.»

 

5) Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina, Felipe Massa
Unique piece, bespoke artwork

«The Yas Marina circuit has well-earned its reputation as the stage for memorable performances, among which Felipe Massa's showcase during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2014 stands out. This artwork pays tribute to the endless joy and excitement emanating from this legendary race track. Every meticulously drawn detail captures the essence of Yas Marina's legacy, with a color palette blending shades of black, electric blue, and gray. Each form precisely interlocks through a structure of 60,000 connection points. In honor of the partnership between Yas Marina circuit and Richard Mille, the renowned watchmaker unveiled a limited edition timepiece, the RM 011 Felipe Massa Flyback Chronograph Yas Marina Circuit. This exceptional watch symbolizes the harmonious union of art and motor sport.»

6) Maloja Pass, Porsche 911

 

«From Italy, the Maloja Pass serves as the gateway to the Upper Engadine, land of the historic resort of St-Moritz—the mother of winter tourism in the Alps, the crystalline lakes of Silvaplana and Sils Maria, and the Piz Bernina, the easternmost 4,000-meter peak in the Alps. Here, one can witness the ghostly Maloja Serpent—a slender cloud cover that sometimes emerges from the distant Lake Como, sneaks through the pass's notch, and then mysteriously slides down into the valley of Engadine, blanketing the landscape in an almost surreal, cottony wave. The poster features the famed second generation of the Porsche 911, unveiled in 1974, navigating the final bends of the Maloja Pass’s western slope.»

7) Genève, Rue du Rhône, Place du Molard

«A trip to Geneva wouldn't be complete without a stroll along Rue du Rhône, a true emblem of luxury and elegance, housing a range of high-end boutiques. Until the 15th century, this prestigious boulevard marked the shoreline of Lake Geneva and the Rhône, encapsulating a rich historical background that enhances its allure. Regarded as the economic heart of Geneva since the 16th century, Place du Molard is one of the city's oldest commercial areas. The term 'molard' translates to 'high ground' in Latin, referring to the embankment that historically protected the harbor, with origins dating back to 1271. Dominating the square is the historic Tour du Molard, also known as the Clock Tower. A captivating spectacle at Place du Molard is the illumination of its 1,857 cobblestones, each inscribed with words in multiple languages.»

8) Geneva, TWA Lockheed Constellation

«This artwork was created especially on the occasion of a partnership with the Bucherer boutique on Rue du Rhône. It is emblematic of the Atelier WOCS collection as it combines two deeply historical representations from the realms of tourism and aviation: the Bay of Geneva with its water jet, on one hand, and the Lockheed Constellation on the other. The Constellation, an iconic aircraft if there ever was one, marks the zenith of the propeller aviation era, just before the advent of jets. It was the first production aircraft with a pressurized cabin, which allowed it to reach high altitudes to fly faster and, importantly, above the clouds, avoiding areas of bad weather and their dangers. Its triple tail and dolphin-shaped fuselage grant it a truly unique silhouette that ultimately solidified its legendary status. The artwork depicts a TWA Constellation flying over Geneva, a destination visited by the airline in the late 1940s.»

9) Geneva, World Capital of Watchmaking

«This artwork also belongs to the Bucherer collection, honoring Geneva's icon: its famous Jet d'eau, viewed from the quintessentially classic perspective, the sublime and timeless view of Geneva Bay from the docks of the Right Bank. In the background, the Salève, the Môle, the Aravis, and then Mont-Blanc succeed each other on ever more distant planes. The typography, which proudly celebrates Geneva as the world capital of watchmaking, has been carefully crafted under the influence of the poster artists of the 1930s. It is a nod to a pivotal period in Geneva's high watchmaking, and especially to its standard of excellence, governed by the emblematic Geneva Seal.»