< Previous48 Capeand Jumpsuit, DAZLUQ. Shoes, STYLIST’S OWN 020-053_VISION_VOL2_ALULA-MS.indd 4818/04/2024 21:1949 Necklace and earrings, FLUORITE 020-053_VISION_VOL2_ALULA-MS.indd 4918/04/2024 21:1950 020-053_VISION_VOL2_ALULA-MS.indd 5018/04/2024 21:1951 Necklace and earrings, FLUORITE Corset and Skirt , LURLINE. Shoes, STYLIST’S OWN 020-053_VISION_VOL2_ALULA-MS.indd 5118/04/2024 21:1952 Blouse and Pants, MD29. Shoes, STYLIST’S OWN 020-053_VISION_VOL2_ALULA-MS.indd 5218/04/2024 21:1953 Necklace and earrings, FLUORITE Trench, ARAM BY ARWA ALAMMARI 020-053_VISION_VOL2_ALULA-MS.indd 5318/04/2024 21:1954 WORDS Alison Tay As Van Cleef & Arpels’ patrimonial exhibition rocks up in Riyadh, President and CEO Nicolas Bos explains the nature of this unique cultural exchange and why now is the right time for this show in the Kingdom 054-059_VISION_VOL2_CROWN JEWELS.indd 5418/04/2024 22:0155 054-059_VISION_VOL2_CROWN JEWELS.indd 5518/04/2024 22:0156 this page Drawing of a box decorated with birds, circa 1935, VAN CLEEF & ARPELS ARCHIVES facing page Bird of Paradise Clip, 1942, VAN CLEEF & ARPELS COLLECTION Saudi Arabia may have only opened its doors to international visitors in 2019 – in line with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud’s modernisation strategy, Vision 2030 – but this historic moment has since seen the nation become the fastest-growing tourism destination in the G20. Included in this infl ux are the European luxury brands hoping to gain a fashion foothold. And among those seeking a success story of their own in the Kingdom is Van Cleef & Arpels, bringing its Time, Nature, Love exhibition to the National Museum of Saudi Arabia – the third stop on its world tour after Palazzo Reale in Milan and the Power Station of Art in Shanghai. According to Laila Alfaddagh, Director of the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, “We’re fortunate to be where we’re at right now, in terms of art and culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To have the support of the government and the Ministry of Culture is really vital for a country to thrive in terms of the culture industry.” Established in 1999, with 4,000 objects on permanent display, Laila’s deciding factor to host Time, Nature, Love was, “to make the National Museum more relevant to our visitors here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but also internationally.” She adds, “What inspired me the most was how I could create that link of what is on permanent display at the National Museum with the exhibition, but in a contemporary way.” So why is now the right time to bring Van Cleef & Arpels: Time, Nature, Love to Saudi? President and CEO Nicolas Bos has the answer. “So many things are happening in Saudi now, it’s such a blessing and a pleasure to be somehow part of it. Saudi has always been a very important market. There is really an appreciation of the precious subject of jewellery. And I would say only in the last few years have we really seen the structures and infrastructures develop in the country, around culture, around retail, and around education, in a way that enables brands or institutions like ours to participate at a speed that is quite remarkable and unprecedented.” Nicolas continues, “This museum is more than 20 years old, but it’s only recently that they became open to international collaboration and projects that are not necessarily directly linked to their own collection of Saudi art. So it was really a matter of timing and recent developments. These projects are very much about building relationships and building trust.” Curated by Professor of Jewellery Design at Milan Polytechnic University and President of the Milano Fashion Institute, Alba Cappellieri, the exhibition showcases more than 280 jewels, timepieces, and precious objects, in addition to 90 archival documents, sketches and gouaché designs illustrating the creative process from the Patrimonial Department, led by Van Cleef & Arpels’ Director of Patrimony, Lise Macdonald. Among the treasures on display is a lion’s head gold choker once owned by Elizabeth Taylor and a diamond tiara worn by Grace Kelly. In a nod to the region, is the 1929 emerald cabochon-tipped diamond necklace worn by Princess Fawzia of Egypt and the collaret necklace that was created for Queen Nazli to mark the wedding of her daughter to the Shah of Iran. Time, Nature, Love arrives in the Kingdom as the second season of Saudi 100 Brands – the mentorship programme masterminded by the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia’s Fashion Commission – is gathering momentum. Among them are established and emerging talents in jewellery design, including Almuhaisen Jewellery, Amarin Jewels, Charmaleena Jewellery, Fluorite, Lillian Ismail, and Loomer Jewelry to name but a few, all of which seek inspiration from their rich heritage and Saudi ancestry. “The hierarchy that you can see sometimes in other countries between visual arts and decorative arts doesn’t really exist in Saudi culture, which is great, I think,” Nicolas notes, while hinting at plans of a future collaboration between Van Cleef & Arpels around Saudi jewellery in Paris in the near future. 054-059_VISION_VOL2_CROWN JEWELS.indd 5618/04/2024 22:0157557575 054-059_VISION_VOL2_CROWN JEWELS.indd 5718/04/2024 22:01Next >