"When Elegance meets Art" Exhibition, Van Cleef & Arpels, Jouin Manku

A DREAM SCENOGRAPHY

Jouin Manku designed a new exhibition for High Jewellery Maison Van Cleef & Arpels in collaboration with the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. The exhibition, titled 'When Elegance Meets Art,' was displayed at the Today Art Museum in Beijing from April 21 to August 5, 2018.

Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku, and Van Cleef & Arpels had developed a creative partnership over several years, working together on projects for boutiques and exhibitions worldwide. Notable exhibitions include 'L'Art de la Haute Joaillerie' (The Art of High Jewelry) at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris in 2012-2013 and 'The Art and Science of Gems' at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore in 2016, all designed by the Jouin Manku studio. The tandem of Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku shared a common vision of creating spaces deeply connected to their surroundings, evoking emotions and a sense of enchantment. For this new exhibition, Jouin Manku envisioned a dreamlike setting inspired by the landscapes and gardens of China. This dreamy atmosphere allowed visitors to embark on a journey through the world of Van Cleef & Arpels.

When elegant meets - Van Cleef & Arpels - Jouin Manku

The Small Gallery explores the early history of Van Cleef & Arpels, featuring jewelry and precious objects from the 1910s to the 1930s, along with short films and videos, all presented in a serene space with soft shades of grey and celadon.

When elegant meets art - Van Cleef & Arpels - Jouin Manku

Throughout the visit, discreet, transparent, and luminous display cases designed by Jouin Manku enhance the jewelry's brilliance.

The Medium Gallery showcases later works from 1940 to 2017, displaying jewelry pieces against layers of transparent, translucent, and opaque materials, abstract-patterned fabrics, and a palette of green, blue, and violet, highlighting the beauty of the pieces.

Guided by changing color schemes, visitors traverse various periods, styles, and inspirations of Van Cleef & Arpels until reaching the last room, the Large Gallery. Here, the most iconic creations from each significant period of the Maison's history are exhibited, creating a journey through the ages, punctuated by hidden treasures and culminating in the exhibition's centerpiece: the Fée Ondine Automate.