By Stanley Lui

Enter the world of Hermès as seen through the eyes of the American Artist Hilton McConnico in his latest collaboration with the prestigious luxury house on The Gift of Time Exhibition.

Having lived and worked in Paris all through his early years for designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Hilton McConnico was the first American to have his works permanently inducted into the Louvre's Decorative Arts collection.

The long time collaborator of the brand, Mr McConnico had designed the Hermès Museum in Tokyo and his Gift of Time exhibition which debuted in Hong Kong, is now in Singapore.

Set in the nostalgic Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, the exhibition celebrates the brand's 175 years’ of heritage and takes visitors through the different facets of time in a series of seven intriguing segments that goes round in a full circle from start to finish in a representation of the circle of time.

In the various segments, visitors are greeted by surrealistic exhibits such as the equestrian sundial, the fabled tree turtle, the whimsical giant spinning top and the cat face decorated door which is essentially made out of many leather appliques in varying textures that visitors can touch and feel for that added immersive experience.

It is through these segments, that the relationship between time and the french luxury brands is thoroughly explored and explained. This is shown in time stands still segment where the creation of lighter Hermès saddles makes for a higher jump in Equestrianism as well as in the pendulum segment where time is involved in the natural patina of leather Hermès bags.

This is then followed by a special intermission in a dark room where visitors are transported into a pensive mood looking at the swirling globe of coloured ceiling light.

All in all, the highlight of the exhibition would probably have to be the balance of time segment with the giant spinning top on a dinner table.

See more photos of the guests who attended the private preview of the exhibition at //senatus.net/album/view/7508/

Something most visitors would be able to relate to, it reflects our appetite for time and how the management of it is essentially like a well-balanced meal on a luxurious dinner table waiting to be consumed in the most unwasteful manner.

Find out more at //www.hermes.com/thegiftoftime/