The exhibition “Van Cleef & Arpels: Time, Nature and Love” in Seoul is a testament to the close connection between the art of jewelry making and time, the balance between eternal beauty and vanity, between tradition and modern fashion.
The exhibition will run from November 18, 2023, to April 14, 2024, with 300 works and more than 90 historical documents on display at the D Museum in Seoul.
Designer Johanna Grawunder creates a decor that combines transparency, light and color at the exhibition
The opening section Time celebrates Paris, exploring five values inspired by Italo Calvino's “Six Memoranda for the Next Millennium”. Curator Alba Cappellieri has selected the core ideas to illuminate the Maison's creations.
The first memo in Italo Calvino’s “Six Memos for the Next Millennium” is defined as “weight subtraction.” This is a signature design of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry, featuring delicate and delicate white diamonds crafted in the 1920s.
Collaret necklace, 1939
The value of time is measured in moments filled with emotion. The swiftness of Van Cleef & Arpels watches since the 1920s, along with the uniqueness, beauty and preciousness of jewelry.
Cadena watch, 1939
The amazing ability of imagination to make the invisible visible is evident in many of Maison's works, typically creations inspired by imaginary and enchanting worlds.
Walska bird and face clip, 1971
Calvino envisioned a world capable of holding a precise sense of beauty and harmony. Precision and harmony are evident in the Maison's jewellery making, particularly the Mystery Set, a novel setting technique invented by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1933.
Mystery Set brooch, 1936
Calvino’s concept of versatility is the perfect link between events and people. This resonates with the world of design, where collections start with an idea that is then expressed in different creations, as seen in the transformative jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Wild Rose Minaudière makeup case, 1938
The second part of the exhibition revolves around the theme of Nature, represented through the rich flora and fauna. Finally, the Love-themed room showcases designs that express the power of emotions as sacred mementos.
The spaces are designed to highlight the intersection of the jewelry industry with many other art forms such as fashion, dance and architecture.
Exhibition space
For her exhibition in Seoul, designer Johanna Grawunder created a décor that combines transparency, light and colour. Inspired by the subtlety of the modern Korean alphabet, the historically significant hues of celadon and the pastel hues of manhwa, Johanna created a unique interpretation for the exhibition’s fourth stop.
