Van Cleef & Arpels, the time-honoured French high jewellery maison renowned for its blend of creativity and poetic style, has unveiled a project that transcends the bounds of imagination. Collaborating with visionary French artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet, the maison orchestrated a mesmerising spring-themed art installation at Hong Kong Landmark. It merged artistic brilliance with the vigour of spring, while underscoring its commitment to art as a cornerstone of community engagement.
Coinciding with Hong Kong’s Art Month, the collaboration immersed shoppers in a world of vivid colours and whimsical designs between March 20 and April 28. Navet’s distinctive style breathed life into the surroundings, inviting the public on a dreamy journey of discovery amid a bounty of spring hues and motifs, which were juxtaposed playfully with the sleek urban landscape.
Alexandre Benjamin Navet, a multidisciplinary artist known for his dynamic use of colour and perspective, spearheaded the creative endeavour. His work is a fusion of art, illustration, design and architecture. His talent, which was recognised in 2017 at the Grand Prix Design Parade Toulon, sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels, brought a fresh, vibrant energy to the collaboration.
Drawn to Van Cleef & Arpels’ iconic Frivole collection, Navet translated the jewellery’s polished, curved, heart-shaped petals into immersive installations that took over Landmark by intertwining over archways, flourishing on balconies and bursting from vases.
Spring has sprung at Landmark with Van Cleef & Arpels’ installation (Photo: courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels)
The floral springtime installation (Photo: courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels)
Navet’s whimsical creations (Photo: courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels)
Navet said, “For me, spring is all about flowers: the refreshing energy the season brings with each blooming of colour and miraculous form. I have played a lot with the vivid and luminous hues of the palettes of Van Cleef & Arpels and this wonderfully lively city of Hong Kong to create a conversation with the public that is bursting with the joy of spring.”
The essence of inventiveness and poetry that defines Van Cleef & Arpels is discernible in every stroke of Navet’s creations. Since the maison was founded in 1906, its commitment to crafting exceptional jewellery and fostering artistic expression has remained unwavering. Through collaborations like this, it continues to open the gate to a timeless universe of beauty.
As visitors wandered through the enchanting world of Navet’s designs, they were reminded of the transformative power of art and the boundless creativity that springs forth when imagination meets craftsmanship. In this larger-than-life spectacle, Van Cleef & Arpels and Alexandre Benjamin Navet enabled everyone to revel in the magic of spring’s awakening.