Royal Salute unveils the Time Chamber by Conrad Shawcross in Dubai

Royal Salute has brought The Time Chamber, a striking sculptural exploration of time, craftsmanship and heritage, to Dubai for the first time, unveiling the installation alongside Dubai Watch Week. The showcase also marks the regional preview of the Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute Peated Edition, the third release in the prestigious collection, ahead of its UAE launch.

A sculptural meditation on time

Positioned at the crossroads of contemporary art and horology, The Time Chamber is one of Royal Salute’s most ambitious artistic collaborations to date. Created by British sculptor Conrad Shawcross, known for his geometric, mechanical and philosophical explorations, the installation challenges the notion of time as merely linear. Instead, Shawcross presents time as a force that sculpts creativity itself.

At the centre of the installation sits a hand-spun optical glass disc that scatters beams of light across the space, forming shifting constellations. Beneath it, a sculptural spindle and crystal vessel anchor the piece, what Shawcross describes as a “vector of time”.

Reflecting on the origins of the work, Shawcross says: “The ‘Time Chamber’ truly came to life following my visit to the Strathisla Distillery in Scotland. I was profoundly struck by the sheer amount of time – 53 years, in the case of this particular blend – that the liquid had spent maturing. This vast expanse of time became my central inspiration.”

He adds that the installation translates time into something tangible. “I aimed to express how time isn’t simply a linear progression, but an immense, multi-faceted force capable of incredible transformation,” says Shawcross.

A 53 year old masterpiece at its core

Fittingly, the heart of the installation houses an exceptionally rare 53-year-old Royal Salute blend, an homage to 1953, the year the brand was founded to honour the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Royal Salute Master Blender Sandy Hyslop emphasises the irreplaceable nature of such aged stock. “Time is at the core of what we do,” says Hyslop. “You can’t rush the slow maturation of these exceptional liquids over decades and generations. Only by allowing the progression of time to take its effect on a spirit are we able to experience the extraordinary richness and depth of character that develop through time alone.”

The vision behind the collaboration

Shawcross describes his partnership with Royal Salute as rooted in a shared respect for patience, mastery and the transformative power of time. “My sculptures demand careful experimentation and immense patience,” says Shawcross. “Similarly, Royal Salute’s commitment to ageing their spirits for a minimum of 21 years is the ultimate testament to time. The entire piece became a celebration of our shared belief that dedicated craftsmanship can evoke wonder and enchantment.”

Reflecting on Royal Salute’s Art of Wonder programme, which first sparked the collaboration, he says: “I was drawn to a brand that not only values but embodies the concept of time. The chance to create an object that literally contains decades of patient craftsmanship was incredibly inspiring.”

A dialogue between art, heritage and horology

The Dubai showcase also highlights the Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute Collection, an ode to ceremonial tradition and the brand’s long-standing craftsmanship. The latest expression, the 62 Gun Salute Peated Edition, is previewed in the UAE as a complement to last year’s Original Reserve and American Oak releases.

Incorporating more than 50 rare spirits, including malts from the historic Caperdonich distillery, the Peated Edition introduces a gently smoky dimension inspired by the drifting smoke of ceremonial cannon fire.

The experience is presented in partnership with Bonhams, whose horological expertise underscores the installation’s central theme of precision and the passage of time. A bespoke gastronomic experience by Chef Prashant Chipkar further elevates the multisensory journey.

Dubai: A global stage for time, craft and culture

Unveiled during Dubai Watch Week, an event dedicated to precision, artistry and mechanical excellence – The Time Chamber resonates deeply with its surroundings.

“Dubai Watch Week champions the very ideas of time and craftsmanship that are at the core of this artwork,” notes Shawcross. “Just as a master watchmaker crafts mechanisms to represent time, I approached the Time Chamber with the same dedication to precision and detail.”

Dubai’s position as a leading centre for art, luxury and design provides an apt setting for a work that invites contemplation. Visitors step into an intimate space where light, movement and rare spirit converge to express the poetry of time.

Availability

The Royal Salute Time Chamber by Conrad Shawcross is released in an extremely limited edition of 21 pieces worldwide, available for RRP USD 120,000 through Le Cercle, Pernod Ricard’s private members’ society.

The Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute Collection is available at Le Clos and MMI stores and online, and will be stocked at the Royal Salute Boutique opening on 25 November 2025 at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 Departures.