For the first two physical iterations of the project, I decided to translate it in a way that the average watch owner would want you to see it. The first one was the watch made of the shiny, flashy jewels. This translation was to demonstrate a wearer’s way of literally sending the message ‘look at all this ice on my wrist!’ The clock on the watch is one hundred percent illegible, because essentially that’s not what people seem to buy it for. In 2019, when people are glued to their phone screens the first thing they see when they unlock their phone is the time. A wristwatch is borderline obsolete.
The other watch is made of a lottery scratch off. It’s one of the most common dreams to become rich one day, so common that people invest in things that will make them feel rich (like an expensive watch). The other average watch owner wears one to simply show, or ‘show’, that they have money. This logic solves very little, though. Having a fancy watch could also show that this individual is terrible at money managing, or just has low self-esteem.
The last iteration is the 8.5″x11″ poster/meme of two watches: the original object for this project, side-by-side with a low quality watch. The satiety lies with the heavy truth that no matter how expensive, or fancy someone’s watch is, it does the same thing that a discount store-bought watch can do. So ultimately, it does not matter how much money is spent.
In my own opinion as the artist, I feel that the most successful iteration was the scratch off. Showing off a large purchase for attention is one of the most common things that people do. Often times it’s rather sad to see, and a scratch off just has this history behind it about people who think that money can solve all of an individual’s problems. On the contrary, it addicts the individual, and whether or not they one day happen to win the lottery, they will forever be hungry for the next big fish, because the truth is that ‘more than enough money’ is never enough.
