The classical gardens of Suzhou were designed as places of reflection; carefully composed landscapes where water, stone, architecture and planting work together to create a sense of balance. Despite sitting within a busy city, they offer a feeling of separation from it, encouraging visitors to pause and pay attention to their surroundings.

This piece was inspired by those gardens, particularly the way they reveal themselves gradually. Views are framed through windows, around corners, and across ponds. Nothing is presented all at once. Instead, the experience unfolds as you move through the space.

Painted on a vintage Suzhou watch, the subject felt particularly fitting. Both the watch and the gardens are products of the same city, each carrying a small part of its history and identity. The artwork draws upon the traditional visual language of Suzhou’s gardens, with water, architecture and natural elements combined into a miniature landscape on the dial.

Walking around those gardens feel like time has almost stopped, as though we are sharing the same experiences and sights as those who did the same, hundreds and hundreds of years ago.