We left the heart of the Native American civilizations, here we find ourselves in the center of the Mesopotamian civilization. More precisely, in the city of Ur, exactly where URWERK has its origins.
In 3000 B.C. In the 4th century BC, the inhabitants of Ur, the Sumerians, defined the very first unit of time there and thus laid the foundation for time measurement as we still know it today. For the golden number 60 – 60 seconds; 60 minutes.
Back to the beginning of it all.
Here is the second edition of the 100V Time and Culture series: “I have had the opportunity, through my reading and travels, to discover the full richness and diversity of the Sumerian civilization. Its mythology is dense and fertile, its origins ancient. This surprisingly little-known civilization is fascinating. I had fun orchestrating some of their strong characteristics for this new creation: mythology, astronomy, astrology, timekeeping,” explains Martin Frei, co-founder and artistic director of URWERK.
UR-100V Time and Culture II © Urwerk
Thus, under the sapphire dome of the UR-100V Time and Culture II, known as “Sumer,” a true pantheon is created in honor of these distant and ancient deities. For a collection – the 100V – whose clues relate to the sun, the central presence of Utu is easy to explain. This sun god is depicted here in his original form, over 2,000 years old, but with a surprisingly and decidedly contemporary aesthetic. A four-pointed sun, reminiscent of the four cardinal points.
Between the horns of the UR-100V, directly in the shadow as if floating in orbit, stands the moon god Nanna, the main deity of the city of UR.
The blue color of the UR-100V “Sumer” is a reference to lapis lazuli. A stone whose use was associated with the goddess Innana, the goddess of love, war and fertility. All that remains of the mineral is the immaterial dimension, the color of infinite blue.
UR-100V Time and Culture II © Urwerk
On the outskirts of the city, forming the background of this UR-100V “Sumer”, spatial shapes stand out. It is the astronomical knowledge of the Sumerian civilization that is transcribed and highlighted here. Real sky maps. Planispheres testify to their love of the night and its lights. It is even said that the first foundations of “our” astrology were laid at this time…
As with the first “Time and Culture”, the motifs here are also reproduced with the greatest meticulousness. The lines are fine, subtle, laser engraved. The work carried out must therefore be closely admired to appreciate its full precision. The pattern’s top lines are satin-finished, while the recesses are micro-cut for a velvety finish to highlight the volumes and pay tribute to this priceless heritage. The basis for the creation of the name URWERK.
UR-100V Time and Culture II © Urwerk
This UR-100V from the Time and Culture series includes data on the earth’s rotation in addition to the hour and minute display. As soon as the minute hand has passed the 60th minute mark, it disappears and reappears as an odometer. It illustrates the 477.29 kilometers that each resident of Ur travels every 20 minutes. It is actually the silent journey that is made thanks to the rotation of the Earth. In the exact opposite, other data is displayed, namely the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, i.e. 35,742 kilometers per 20 minutes. On the front of the UR-100V, hours and kilometers have the same status and value scale.