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TRAVELLER
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77
FEATURES
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GENEVA
GALLERIES
The heart of Geneva – what locals call the “Old Town”
– abounds with cute galleries housing every type of art
imaginable. In fact, art and horology are eager bedfellows in
Geneva, as a stroll through the Old Town with Maximilian
Büsser – founder of watch brand MB&F and Geneva’s brand
newM.A.D. Gallery – will make apparent. Büsser is more
than just a watch executive: his vision of art extends from his
kinetic wrist creations into other interesting “machines” (such
as clockwork sculptures), a number of which he curates in
the M.A.D. Gallery (11 Rue Verdaine;
mbandf.com
). Perhaps
the most interesting new location in the city, this gallery’s
artefacts are an object lesson in contemporary watchmaking.
Geneva is decorated with numerous sculptures and
monuments – even a working clock made entirely of live
flowers (Quai du Général-Guisan, Jardin Anglais). Perhaps
one of the most interesting installations is the giant
pendulum located in the Hotel Cornavin (fassbindhotels.
com), right next to the main train station of the same name.
This hangs down from the ninth floor, swinging 30.02m
to the ground. Made by renowned clockmaker Jean Kazès,
this magnificent symbol highlights the importance of
timekeeping in this Swiss metropolis.