French-American artist Robert Filliou’s Principle of Equivalence argued that “Well done”, “Badly done”, “Not Done” are three equivalent propositions. In the eyes of the founder of the Fluxus movement, “Well done”, “Badly done”, “Not Done” can also be the basis for Permanent Creation. In 1962, the same man carried his art works in his hat and called it “Légitime Couvre Chef Oeuvre" (the Legitimate Gallery Masterpiece Hat). Imagine an entire art show in a hat!

But what does all this have to do with Baselworld, you might wonder? Well that same hat, in which an entire art exhibition fit, is now represented in 3D inside a watch! The watch is called the Art Piece 1 Robert Filliou, designed by the combined talents of Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey, with English micro-sculptor Willard Wigan.

Considering they chose the “Badly done” option according to the Principle of Equivalence (as can be seen on the watch’s crystal), they did it quite well indeed. The micro hat – out of which the “Well done”, “Badly done”, “Not Done” art works are magically flying - is probably one of the smallest sculptures in the world, and it can be admired through the magnifying optical system inserted into the case.

Imagine for a moment, that you are peering through your magnifying glass, gazing at a Baselworld that would fit in a hat! Would the ambitions, the hopes, the competitions, the jealousies, the egos, all this tumult, all this excitement, would it all be so extensive and so noisy as it is in reality?

“I have time, I am not in a hurry, it allows me to despise no one as an enemy ...” said Robert Filliou of himself. Far from the bustle of the smartwatches which promise connections to the virtual world, here is a watch connecting us to the philosophical world. Even if Baselworld would fit in a hat, you can always find treasures here every day. (PM)