[Seoul, Korea]
<Cartier, Crystallization of Time> opens at Seoul's DDP from Wednesday, May 1 to Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Cartier's high jewelry, which has left an important mark on each timeline for 177 years since its launch, is the result of combining jewelry created over time, wondrous nature, and designs inspired by world culture with the unrivaled craftsmanship of artisans. This exhibition, reconfigured for the Seoul presentation after the 2019 debut in Tokyo, showcases Cartier's strong culture and creative value through holdings called the Cartier Collection, archival materials, and contemporary works from private collections that are not normally open to the public.
The space design for this exhibition is by New Material Research Laboratory (NMRL), an architectural firm founded by artist Hiroshi Sugimoto and architect Tomoyuki Sakakida. You can experience a scenography that harmonizes Cartier's works with sensory elements made from natural materials such as stone and wood. In cooperation with Onjieum, a traditional culture research institute affiliated with the Central Hwadong Foundation, a sister organization of Arumjigi Foundation, which Cartier has supported for a long time, Korean traditional materials symbolizing heritage will also be placed throughout the exhibition hall. Based on research by the Onjieum Clothing Workshop, the texture of ‘Ra (a representative fabric of the Three Kingdoms Period and the Goryeo Dynasty) was restored close to the relic, but it is even more meaningful because it was restored through support from Cartier.
The exhibition begins with the Mystery Clock and Prism Clock, which showcase the essence of Cartier's artistry, creativity, and outstanding technology. Cartier's clock goes beyond simple decorative art and expresses the mysterious truth of time, where the present quickly becomes the past and constantly moves toward the future.
This exhibition is a new addition to the museum-quality themed exhibitions (often organized by or in collaboration with a museum) that place Cartier high jewelry within certain cultural narratives. On view in Hong Kong a year ago, organised by the Hong Kong Palace Museum with the support of Cartier, was “Cartier and Women,” the first major exhibition that foregrounds women’s role and presence in the history of Cartier. Featuring about three hundred stunning items of Cartier jewellery, timepieces, precious objects, and archival records from the nineteenth century to the present day, the exhibition celebrated women’s lifestyles, creativity, and influence.
Saw this exh in while visiting Tokyo in 2019. It's really beautiful.