People are moved and healed by looking at flowers that change their expressions in a variety of ways, from delicacy and strength to splendor and fragility. Sometimes I let my imagination run wild and create art. Van Cleef & Arpels' limited-time exhibition ``LIGHT OF FLOWERS Hana no Hikari'' is being held at Daikanyama T-SITE GARDEN GALLERY from April 4nd to May 22th.

The day before the opening, I was lucky enough to see the recently completed installation for reporting purposes. Inside the gallery, various types of plants of different heights are arranged on the surface of the water that shimmers in the light, and jewelry showcases are set up on the soft clay walls. There was a sense of tranquility in the space, where flowers, light, and water harmonized.

Daikanyama T-SITE GARDEN GALLERY is said to have been an area where Daikan mansions were lined up in the past, and the commercial facility that takes advantage of this atmosphere is rich in greenery despite its proximity to the city center, making this exhibition with a theme of flowers a perfect fit. It blends in. Van Cleef & Arpels has won the hearts of fans not only with its jewelry concepts and designs, but also with its poetic expressions in presentation. This exhibition, made up of flowers and jewelry, is sure to help visitors forget, even for a moment, the anxiety and frustration that has been lingering in their hearts since last year.

Although the project for ``LIGHT OF FLOWERS Hana no Hikari'' began over a year and a half ago, Van Cleef & Arpels' relationship with flowers dates back to 1906, when the Maison was founded. From the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, the art movement Art Nouveau was popular in Paris, and the Japanese culture that influenced it, ``Japonisme,'' attracted attention. Painters such as Van Gogh and Monet used paintbrushes to express Japanese tastes on canvas, while Van Cleef & Arpels sought to express Japanese sentiment through smoothly polished colorful gemstones and outstanding jewelry techniques.

Rene Puissant, who was appointed as the Maison's first artistic director in 1926, observed plants, noting the slightly different shapes of each petal, the twists of stems and leaves, the areas exposed to light, and the shadows. By using small and large gemstones and bold colors, he created jewelry with a number of flower motifs. Although about a century has passed since these pieces of jewelry were first introduced into this world, many still remain with a sublimely beautiful shine. This exhibition features flower motif brooches, clips, necklaces, earrings, and rings created from the 1s to the 1930s, as well as gold lipstick cases and black lacquer cigarette cases that symbolized the elegant lifestyle of women at the time. are also on display.

Recent works include the lovely yellow gold pendants and rings from the Frivole Collection, the chic Rose de Noel clips made of mother-of-pearl and onyx, and the neat diamond jewelry from the Lotus Collection and Cosmos Collection. , watches such as the ``Lady Arpels Jules Nuit Fes Ondine'' watch, whose dial is full of flower motifs, are lined up, allowing you to enjoy the spirit and savoir-faire (craftsmanship) of Van Cleef & Arpels. His highlight is the high jewelry "Omikuji Necklace" released in 2008. This is a work that can truly be called modern Japonisme.

In harmony with Van Cleef & Arpels' jewelry is a fresh flower installation by flower arranger Koatsu Katagiri. Approximately 50 types of plants, including pine violets, anemones, Christmas roses, primroses, forget-me-nots, lily of the valley, and pansies, are displayed beautifully in large vases on the floor or in water holes that can be called ponds. Furthermore, visuals of plants photographed by Mr. Katagiri are placed on the walls and ceiling. What you should pay attention to is that the roots of the plants are emphasized in the visuals. When arranging flowers, the roots, which are usually cut off, are left standing in front of the flowers, which is surprising.

Regarding his work, Mr. Katagiri says, ``Behind what the human eye sees, there is actually something that cannot be seen at the same time.We do not only look at flowers when they are in their prime, but also that they will eventually decay and have roots. I want people to feel this.I put a small message into my work.Everyone is going through difficult times right now, but I think this is a warning from nature that we need to restore harmony with nature. I think the whole world has noticed this," he said.

This is the second collaboration between Van Cleef & Arpels and Mr. Katagiri. Mr. Katagiri, who has become familiar with the Maison's manufacturing process through repeated communication, said, ``The perspective of Van Cleef & Arpels' craftsmen is full of love for plants, as they look at every inch of the flower. The light of a flower that is not there continues to dwell in it.''

During the exhibition period, Mr. Katagiri will personally check the condition of the plants and water every morning and perform maintenance. ``LIGHT OF FLOWERS Hana no Hikari'' is an exhibition filled with love for flowers.

Limited time exhibition “LIGHTOFFLOWERS Hana no Hikari”

Date and time: April 2021, 4 (Thursday) - May 22, 5 (Sunday)11:00～20:00
Location: Daikanyama T-SITE GARDEN GALLERY
*Closed at 4:26 only on April 27th (Monday), 28th (Tuesday), and 18th (Wednesday)
※free entrance

*This is being implemented with extreme caution to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infection.
*In order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infection, the contents of exhibitions and events posted on this site may have changed. Please check the latest information from the official website etc.