For over a century, Van Cleef & Arpels has imbued its creations with movement — graceful, fluid, eternal. Now, in a landmark moment for Oceania, The Art of Movement: Van Cleef & Arpels, Living Instants, Eternal Forms brings this dynamic artistry to Sydney’s Watersedge at Campbell’s Stores from now until the 8th of May.
I was honoured to be one of the first to preview Van Cleef & Arpels The Art of Movement exhibition now on in Sydney. If you love exquisitely created jewellery with a fascinating history, then this free exhibition that features over 100 pieces from the storied Maison’s private collection is well worth a visit. The exhibition showcases Van Cleef & Arpel’s unparalleled craftsmanship and the evolution of jewellery design since their foundation in 1906.
Ahead of the exhibition, we spoke with Alexandrine Maviel-Sonet, the Maison’s Director of Patrimony and Exhibitions, about her role in curating this exceptional showcase. “Movement, by nature ephemeral, is made eternal in jewellery,” she says. “Van Cleef & Arpels has always brought a touch of liveliness to its creations. In our collection, flowers are blooming, animals are facetious, and bows inspired by couture unfold in a loop — each piece captures a sense of motion, infused with wonder and poetry.”
Divided into four themes — Human Odyssey, Nature Alive, Elegance, and Abstraction — the exhibition reveals the Maison’s storied relationship with motion. “We spent six months selecting over 100 pieces that truly epitomise movement,” Maviel-Sonet shares. “The Silhouette clip, for instance, created in the 1930s, is at the crossroads of nature, couture, and abstraction as it represents both a bow and a flower in an abstract way, epitomising the Maison’s signature fluidity.”
With sketches, gouache designs, and dazzling high jewellery on display, The Art of Movement offers an intimate look at Van Cleef & Arpels’ enduring pursuit of movement. “We hope visitors — through this specific exploration of the Van Cleef & Arpels creations — see jewellery as part of the decorative arts world, and as art in general, discovering the ingenuity of the craftsmen behind each piece.”
