Swiss watchmaker Hublot is keen on inviting artists of different styles to collaborate in special watch design. Over the years we’ve seen the work of sculptor Richard Orlinski, tattoo artist Maxime Büchi and more being transformed into mesmeric one-off timepieces. Yet, having crossover initiatives is not the only way Hublot shows its support in art. Together with Hong Kong Contemporary Art Foundation (HOCA), the brand is presenting Textures of Memory, the solo exhibition of American artist José Parlá, in Hong Kong.

Born in Miami, José Parlá started being involved in graffiti and hip-hop art culture at the tender age of 10. After graduating in the Savannah College of Art and Design, SCAD and New World School of the Arts, he focuses his energy in graffiti and calligraphy, creating artworks that touch on topics of socioeconomics, politics, and history. His mixed media works combine painting, writing, posters, and advertisements and transform a style rooted from the streets into a hybrid form of abstraction and urban realism.

Textures of Memory is curated by Austrian curator Dieter Buchhart and spans across two venues. The HOCA exhibition happening at The Annex in Nan Fung Place runs until 11 October, showcasing the artist’s most significant retrospective works. Parlá’s latest series of work from 2019 can be found at Ben Brown Fine Arts’ gallery in Pedder Building until 6 November.