Audemars Piguet continues its partnership with Art Basel for the 3rd consecutive year, kicking of this year’s show with its own piece of contemporary art. The brand announced last year that it would be choosing an artist for its first Art Commission project, and true to its word, it unveiled a unique work of art created by Swiss artist and composer Robin Meier for this year’s Art Basel show in Basel.

Meier was chosen by art curator Marc-Olivier Wahler from a number of applicants, and together with Audemars Piguet, they created and presented a work of art with music, lights and real-life fireflies.

The exhibit, named “Robin Meier: Synchronicity – Fireflies, Crickets and Machines”, was designed to show how order can emerge from chaos as fireflies synchronize the pulsation of their light to the rhythm of the environment around them. Meier explained how he is equally fascinated by the science behind these incredible insects as he is in incorporating them into his art, working with scientists and specialized laboratories in the creation of his work

Guests were able to walk through a specially-designed tent, listening to the amplified sounds of the natural firefly environment and watch these incredible insects put on their own lightshow in tune to the music. Not at all disturbed by their new environment at Basel’s Volkhaus, one of them even landed on my hand for a few seconds before flying off to the bushes behind me. The exhibit will remain open until the weekend, after which the fireflies will be returned to their homeland in Japan.

The Audemars Piguet Art Commission project will continue on an annual basis, visiting all Art Basel locations (Basel, Miami and Hong Kong) in rotation.

Art Basel in Basel will remain open until June 21st where visitors will also get the opportunity to see other forms of art by Audemars Piguet’s at the brand’s Collectors’ Lounge. This year the lounge has been redesigned by leading French designer Mathieu Lehanneur and features replica rocks from the Vallée de Joux, an eco-living wall “Wild Constellations”, a sound installation by French artist Alexandre Joly, an exhibition on the brand’s historical ladies’ timepieces, and a live demonstration by a master jeweler and a watchmaker.

A number of Audemars Piguet’s new ladies’ pieces were also on display, including the new Ladies Millenary timepieces and the spectacular Diamond Punk secret watch, unveiled earlier in the year—all of which were drawing as much attention as the exotic fireflies down the street!