For an artist whose work explores identity, conflict and the meaning we attach to everyday objects, designing a luxury watch might seem like an unexpected next step. But for London-based creative Soldier, real name Leonard Iheagwam, his latest collaboration with Hublot makes a surprising amount of sense.
Two years in development, the Big Bang Soldier All Black sees the Nigerian-born artist reinterpret one of Swiss watchmaking's most recognisable silhouettes, introducing elements of his artistic practice into a timepiece limited to just 50 examples.
To understand the collaboration, it's worth revisiting the history of the watch itself. Hublot first introduced the Big Bang in 2005, under the leadership of Jean-Claude Biver, establishing a new design language built around unconventional material combinations, industrial detailing and a bold, layered construction. The model quickly became central to the brand's identity, while the arrival of the Big Bang All Black in 2006 challenged traditional ideas of legibility through an entirely monochromatic design.
The 42mm chronograph features a black ceramic case and bezel, combining polished and microblasted surfaces with black-plated titanium components. Beneath its sapphire dial sits Hublot's in-house HUB1280 Unico movement, offering a 72-hour power reserve. The restrained colour palette allows the watch's construction, textures and subtle artistic details to take precedence.
Central to the design is Soldier's recurring toy soldier motif, which appears across the dial in miniature. It's an image that carries considerable meaning within his wider practice, where familiar childhood objects are used to explore questions surrounding power, violence and the commercialisation of conflict.
Born in Lagos, Soldier developed his creative identity through skateboarding, fashion and art, eventually co-founding the Nigerian streetwear and skate collective Motherlan. After relocating to London, he established himself within the city's contemporary art scene, developing a multidisciplinary practice spanning painting, sculpture and mixed media.
His work has since appeared in exhibitions at institutions including London's Saatchi Gallery, with recurring themes of migration, cultural identity and the relationship between personal experience and wider political structures.
The watchmaker has spent decades experimenting with materials and challenging conventional approaches to luxury watch design, while Soldier has built his artistic identity around taking recognisable imagery and giving it an entirely different context.
Their relationship began in 2024, when Hublot hosted Soldier's "Champions" exhibition at its London boutique. The connection eventually evolved into a two-year design process, bringing the artist into the world of Swiss watchmaking.
Alongside its black fabric strap, the piece arrives with two additional rubber straps featuring red and green linings, colours that represent the present and past within his artistic practice. The caseback is engraved with the coordinates of Hublot's London boutique, acknowledging where the collaboration began.
Speaking about the release on Instagram, Soldier described the project as an opportunity to bring his creative vision to an established design, explaining that he sees the finished pieces as sculptural objects as much as functional watches.
The collaboration also places him alongside an extensive list of artists who have worked with Hublot, including Takashi Murakami, Daniel Arsham and Samuel Ross. At 26, Soldier becomes the youngest artist to collaborate with the Swiss watchmaker.
For Soldier, the Big Bang All Black represents another step in a career that has consistently moved between different creative disciplines. For Hublot, it offers a fresh interpretation of a design that has been central to the brand for over two decades.
The Hublot Big Bang Soldier All Black is limited to 50 pieces, with availability through Hublot's London flagship and official website.
