Quentin Carnaille from northern France was never an exceptional scholar until his artistic talent was revealed while studying architecture in Belgium. After graduating, Quentin Carnaille went through various professional trainings in sales, finance and legal, accumulating experience to become an entrepreneur.
The young artist went on to develop a thorough reflection around the notion of time, questioning themes like infinity or relativity. “Time doesn’t exist,” says Carnaille, “it is simply the result of a constant human motivation to materialize it!” He also draws a parallel between watchmaking and architecture; a parallel he explores in more depths through his sculptures, as a culmination of his philosophical and artistic plan.
Pieces of art created from thousands of vintage watch components, they reflect the ingenuity of the designer: levitation, optical illusions, movement… His artworks capture, fascinate and always have a metaphysical dimension. The creations are like memorials, built to the glory of old timepieces from the golden age of watchmaking.
Infini
Time and infinity are two paradoxical notions recalling the complexity of the human brain. Time is a mental fabrication. After all, if infinity does exist, what does time mean? Through an optical phenomenon, this piece of art evokes the confrontation of these two notions.
‘Infini’ (Infinity) is made of 16 watch sculptures also composed of thousands of vintage micro-horological components that are magnetically stuck to one another. They float in an endless picture. It seems that the 16 sculptures are frozen in time due to the inert composition repeating itself infinitely in the mirror background. There, time and infinity coexist in a stunning work.
Limited edition of twelve pieces.
6 LED–aluminum interior trim–exterior trim
pear wood, stained black
Dimensions: 82 x 82 x 12 cm
Apesanteur II
A sculpture that sends us back to the origins of measuring time: astronomy. What is more fascinating than observing the stars? Astronomy led us, a few millenaries ago, to one of the most fabulous inventions of mankind: the notion of time. Unlike the mastering of fire or the invention of the wheel, time is not palpable as it is a mental fabrication. Yet, it is just as decisive in the evolution of mankind.
‘Apesanteur II’ (which can be translated as ‘Zero Gravity’ or ‘Weightlessness’) is a sculpture that flies, floats, levitates… like a star or planet. The levitating disk is made of thousands of tiny centennial mechanical watch components. Carnaille was able to source these stocks of vintage pieces via connections with watchmakers and antique dealers.
He then uses a powerful magnet to sort out which of the tiny pieces are magnetic and can be used for the sculpture. ‘Apesanteur II’ is an invisible link between astronomy and mechanical watchmaking.
Limited edition of 48 pieces.
Ebony base: 36.5 x 28 x 12 cm
Levitating sculpture: 13 cm in
diameter by 2 cm thick