Garage Gallery

The Hidden Art of the Timepiece

Originally from Warsaw, Poland, Karol Renau has been taking pictures since the young age of six. Allowed access to a family-owned and run photography studio, Renau began to self-develop his own film at 13 or 14 years of age.

These images shown are a combination of Karol’s enthusiasm for historical and modern timepieces. He captures with his abilities the beauty developed and skill necessary by watchmakers in order to create these timeless objects. Although he has been collecting watches for the last ten years, the self-taught “fixer” only began to tinker with broken watches due to sleepless nights and probable insomnia after the launch of a company he had begun with his wife.

The first watch that Karol learned to fix, from various videos and tutorials he had found on the web, was a cheap ten-dollar, Elgin pocket watch.

It is a strategy game of sorts for Karol to further piece together material that he has amassed. He has discovered resourceful means of finding or recreating missing aspects of his timepieces. From creating replicas of parts—which has proved rather difficult—to purchasing other watches for the parts he needs, he constructs a vicious cycle for his admirable devotion, desiring to mend what he had originally obtained for parts.

In breaking down these watches, which can take the use of a microscope, Karol discovered more hidden treasures within the faces and interiors of pocket watches. Intrigued by the significant amount of detail, he began documenting the master artistry of engravings and paintings by watchmakers. These photographs displayed are images captured within the last two years.

A.R.T.S. School Tours of this educational exhibit are available free of charge thanks to funding from Vail Resorts and Canyons. To schedule a free school tour, please contact artstours@kimballartcenter.org