Van Cleef & Arpels has partnered with photographer Mika Ninagawa to display her work alongside the French maison’s jewelry in an immersive exhibit designed by architect, Tsuyoshi Tane. Entitled “Florae” and on view through November 14 at Hôtel d’Évreux on Place Vendôme in Paris, it features one hundred Van Cleef & Arpel pieces that play with light and color against the backdrop of Ninagawa’s photos.
“Florae” is structured in three parts, the first dedicated to the natural aesthetic from which both Van Cleef & Arpels and Ninagawa take great inspiration, with a particular emphasis on natural colors, textures, and features of flowers. The second part focuses on bouquets, where the organic nature of flowers and artistic composition meet. It’s an iconic motif for Van Cleef & Arpels from the mid-century and continues to set the brand apart. Finally, the third part of the show is dedicated to stylized designs, with more expressionist visions of flora, using light and mirrors to evoke a sense of surrealism.
Ninagawa said, “Like me, Van Cleef & Arpels is fascinated by nature’s transformations. Seeing how the Maison seeks to replicate the movement of flowers in its jewelry inspires me greatly. These pieces and my photographs echo each other in the exhibition. Together, they spark a new fascination for flora.”
