ocated on Place du Molard in the heart of Geneva, surrounded by luxury watch boutiques, busy cafés and frequently packed restaurants, Atelier WOCS was set up in 2018 by Robert Topulos, an artist who trained at Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD).

Through its artworks, Atelier WOCS returns to a longstanding Swiss tradition: poster art. Who hasn’t seen, and admired, iconic Belle Epoque posters vaunting the merits of Alpine winter resorts? Robert Topulos combines this legacy with some of his other passions, starting with watches and aviation. The works are meticulously crafted at his studio, a short walk from Campus Genevois de Haute Horlogerie, with some taking upwards of 350 hours to complete.

This is partly explained by his use of an innovative process. Etorie® is a fade-resistant natural pigment ink process, applied to conservation fine art paper. It yields a broad palette of deep, saturated colours that would be impossible to achieve using conventional lithographic or silkscreen methods.

We gave carte blanche to Robert Topulos, who describes some of his artworks below.

World Time Soars: “Unveiled at Geneva Watch Days 2023, World Time Soars is a vivid intersection between the golden age of aviation and modern horological excellence. A classic among aircraft, a DC-3 gracefully navigates through the sophisticated dial of the Patek Philippe 5531R-012 World Time. The Swiss HB-COT insignia discreetly pays tribute to Louis Cottier, the visionary behind the world time mechanism, encapsulating the era-transcending narrative of the world’s pioneers. In his 1935 poster, Noel Fontanet urged that Time is Money. Here, time is neither commodity nor currency: it is heritage.”

Paul Newman, Le Mans Race 1979 (one-off piece, made to order): “On June 9-10, 1979, alongside co-drivers Dick Barbour and Rolf Stommelen, legendary actor and racing driver Paul Newman made his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut at the wheel of one of the most important models in the marque’s history: the Porsche 935. An interesting footnote of this car is its 1980 sponsorship by Apple Computers; an unprecedented alliance between racing and technology for the only race car ever to be backed by tech giants. In addition to being a celebrated Hollywood star, Paul Newman’s fame extended into the realm of horology in 2017 when, in the space of 12 minutes, his 1968 Rolex Daytona sold at Phillips New York for a staggering US$ 17.8 million to set a new record for a wristwatch at auction.”

Gstaad Palace, Bentley Anniversary: “Inspired by Belle Epoque advertisements for chocolate and referencing the Art Deco movement through its use of colour blocks and strong visual composition, this work is a unique piece within the collection. It depicts the Gstaad Palace — a beacon of refined hospitality since its establishment in 1913 that has always welcomed distinguished guests from around the world — together with the iconic 1936 Bentley Pacey-Hassan single-seater. This elegant vehicle dominated the most fiercely contested races of its days, reaching speeds of up to 205 kilometres/hour. Its red colour is a nod to Swiss artist Alex Walter Diggelmann’s famous Gstaad poster from 1934.”

Genève, Quai du Mont-Blanc, Latécoère 631: “The Latécoère 631 is the last seaplane to have flown a commercial transatlantic line, having transported passengers in the 1950s on some of the longest routes departing from Europe. The “Laté” carried its 54 passengers at a maximum speed of 400 km/h while its autonomy of more than 6,000 kilometres was sufficient to fly, for example, from Geneva to New York. Generally, it cruised at an altitude of 2,500 metres with an operating speed of between 280 and 300 kilometres/hour. This artwork shows the sixth plane built by Latécoère as it prepares to land on the Rade de Genève, on June 12, 1948, taking off again two days later, on June 14. Such an exceptional event drew crowds of onlookers to the lakeside.”

Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina, Felipe Massa (one-off piece, made to order): “The Yas Marina Circuit enjoys a well-deserved reputation for hosting the most memorable performances, including Felipe Massa’s remarkable display at the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This artwork is a reminder of the exhilaration and excitement that emanate from this legendary racetrack. Each meticulously crafted detail captures the essence of Yas Marina’s legacy in a palette of blacks, electric blues and greys. Shapes precisely intertwine, connecting at 60,000 separate points. In celebration of the partnership between Yas Marina Circuit and Richard Mille, the renowned watchmaker unveiled the limited-edition RM 011 Felipe Massa Flyback Chronograph Yas Marina Circuit. This exceptional watch symbolises the harmonious fusion of art and motorsport.”

Maloja Pass, Porsche 911: “Arriving from Italy, the Maloja Pass is the gateway to the Upper Engadine, home to the historic resort of St. Moritz, the birthplace of winter tourism in the Alps, the crystal-clear lakes of Silvaplana and Sils Maria, and Piz Bernina, the most easterly peak in the Alps at over 4,000 metres. Possibly you will see the Maloja Snake: a narrow bank of clouds that occasionally emerges from Lake Como in the distance, slipping through the notch of the pass to mysteriously descend into the Engadine valley where it swathes the landscape in an almost unreal, cottony veil. The artwork depicts the second-generation Porsche 911, unveiled in 1974, as it negotiates the final twists and turns of the Maloja Pass’s western slope.”

Genève, Rue du Rhône, Place du Molard: “No visit to Geneva is complete without a stroll along Rue du Rhône, the epitome of luxury and elegance, lined with high-end boutiques. Until the fifteenth century, this prestigious thoroughfare marked the shoreline of Lake Geneva and the Rhône River: an historical backdrop that only adds to its charm. The city’s economic heart since the sixteenth century, Place du Molard is one of Geneva’s oldest commercial hubs. It takes its name from the Latin “molard” meaning “raised ground” in reference to the dyke that shielded the port, whose origins date back to 1271. Dominating the square is the Molard Tower, also known as the Clock Tower. The square is particularly beautiful at night when its 1,857 cobblestones sparkle with light, each inscribed with words in different languages.”

Geneva, TWA Lockheed Constellation: This artwork was specially created for the Bucherer boutique on Rue du Rhône and is characteristic of the collection at Atelier WOCS, with its two profoundly historical depictions of tourism and aviation: the Rade de Genève and the Jet d’Eau on the one hand, and the Lockheed Constellation on the other. Truly an icon, the Constellation marks the heyday of propeller-driven aircraft, just before the advent of jet engines. It was the first production aircraft with a pressurized cabin, which enabled it to gain high altitude to fly faster and, importantly, above the clouds, thus avoiding bad weather and its dangers. The distinctive outline of the Constellation’s triple-tail and dolphin-shaped fuselage confirmed its legendary status. Here we see a TWA Constellation over Geneva: a destination served by TWA in the late 1940s.

Genève, Capitale Mondiale de l’Horlogerie: Also part of the Bucherer collection, this artwork gives centre-stage to Geneva’s most famous landmark, the Jet d’Eau in its classic “pose”: the inimitable view across the Rade de Genève from the Right Bank promenade. Behind it, the Salève, Môle, Aravis and Mont-Blanc mountains recede into the distance. Its typography, which proudly celebrates Geneva as the world capital of watchmaking, is informed by 1930s Swiss poster art. It alludes to a pivotal period in Genevan fine watchmaking and to the excellence for which it is renowned — as certified by the Poinçon de Genève.