Since its founding in 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels has drawn endless inspiration from nature. Flora, a precious material that reflects the ever-changing natural world, infuses the Maison's creations with vitality and poetry. Renowned for her vibrantly colored work, photographer Mika Ninagawa shares the Maison's fascination with flowers, constantly striving to capture their beauty and uniqueness. Her photographs vividly capture every nuance of dahlias, roses, and cherry blossoms, bringing them to life once again. In the "Flora" exhibition, more than 100 pieces from the Maison, including pieces from the Van Cleef & Arpels collection and contemporary jewelry, are harmoniously integrated with the artist's work to create a luxurious space. Ninagawa's photographs of flowers spread dazzling corollas across the glass walls, while the Maison's floral creations delicately bloom within showcases designed to blend seamlessly into their surroundings.


The exhibition is divided into three parts, reflecting the floral vision shared by Mika Ninagawa and the Maison. The first part introduces a naturalistic aesthetic that highlights realistic expression. Focusing on the natural colors, the volume of the corollas, and the texture and characteristics of the petals, as expressed in photographs and jewelry, the exhibition also features representative jewelry pieces such as the Mystery Set Pivoine clip, created in 1937, and the Myosotis watch. The second section focuses on bouquets, paying tribute to the lush flowerbeds, including the exquisite floral compositions that adorned many Van Cleef & Arpels creations from the 1930s and 1940s, and the lush rose bushes so admired by the photographer. Finally, the third and final section focuses on stylized visions of flowers, where natural realism gives way to graphic lines, striking color combinations, and a sense of movement. Influences from other artistic worlds, such as the couture-inspired Silhouette clip, illuminate the Maison's creations and foster a new repertoire of design. As visitors move from one room to the next, connections emerge between the various pieces. The photographer's vibrant images resonate with the hues of precious stones, celebrating the rich and ever-evolving world of flowers. To create an artistic dialogue between jewelry and photography, Mika Ninagawa and Van Cleef & Arpels commissioned architect Tsuyoshi Tane, founder of Paris-based ATTA (Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects), to design the exhibition space. For "Flora," Tane envisioned an immersive set design centered on the play of light and mirrors. Two key concepts are woven into the spatial design: a "kaleidoscope" with its infinite color effects, and a "maze" that allows visitors to become lost in this dreamlike space. The exhibition path is constructed with reflective glass walls that illuminate to project Mika Ninagawa's photographs.

Meanwhile, the Maison's creations shine in delicate display cases specially designed to blend into their surroundings, creating the illusion of floating in this magnificent garden. As visitors move through the exhibition, their perception of the space changes from moment to moment, creating a truly sensory experience. This fantastical labyrinth, reflecting an infinite number of plant shapes, details and colours, evokes passages from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Michael Ende's novel Peach, in which flowers are portrayed as symbols of the passage of time.




Dates: September 10th - November 10th, 2021
Venue: Hôtel d'Evreux (19 Place Vendôme, Paris)
Admission: Free (advance reservation required)



Click here for company press release details