On November 4, the exhibition “Cartier, the Power of Magic” grandly opened at the East Building of the Shanghai Museum.
Twenty years after the success of the 2004 “Cartier Treasures” exhibition, Cartier Collection has collaborated with the Shanghai Museum once again to initiate a new chapter in East-West cultural exchange. Centered around “The Art of Cartier,” this exhibition showcases over 300 exquisite pieces, bringing together Cartier’s collection masterpieces alongside precious artifacts from museums worldwide, continuing the cultural and artistic dialogue between East and West.
cAI™ (pronounced AI Cai), under the guidance of renowned artist Cai Guoqiang and his team, served as the visual director for this exhibition. The exhibition design blends landscapes in the Ni Zan style imagined by cAI™ with traditional Chinese line drawings of gardens. The ceramic and stone carvings in the display cases were meticulously crafted by artisans from Cai Guoqiang’s hometown of Quanzhou, inspired by imagery created by cAI™, symbolizing a dialogue between traditional Chinese culture and contemporary AI creativity. This aligns with Cartier’s spirit of innovation and magic in using natural gemstones and craftsmanship in jewelry design.
As part of the celebrations for the “Year of French-Chinese Cultural Tourism” and the “Festival Croisements – A Special Presentation for the 60th Anniversary of China-France Diplomatic Relations,” the opening ceremony was attended by officials and prominent guests, including Zhong Xiaomin, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism; Bertrand Lortholary, French Ambassador to China; Xu Xiaobo, Director of the Shanghai Museum; Renée Frank, Exhibition Director of Cartier Heritage; Pascale Lepeu, Curator of the Cartier Collection; Cécile Naour, CEO of Cartier China; Gong Li, Cartier’s Global Ambassador for High Jewelry; Mélanie Laurent, Cartier Brand Ambassador; and artist Cai Guoqiang.
Chu Xiaobo, Director of the Shanghai Museum, remarked on the exhibition’s significance, saying, “Cartier’s philosophy of timeless beauty in jewelry resonates with the enduring values of ancient Chinese art. The mystery of Eastern art has been a profound source of inspiration for Cartier, blending the unique appeal of Chinese antiques, the vibrant hues of gemstones, and the free, dynamic designs that reflect the vitality of nature and convey a distinctive and lasting artistic essence.”
Pierre Rainero, Cartier’s Director of Image, Style, and Heritage, stated, “The ‘Magnificent Blossoms: The Art of Cartier’ exhibition marks a reunion between the Cartier Collection and the Shanghai Museum, following our first China-focused exhibition in 2004. This exhibition introduces a new analytical perspective, delving into the ties between Cartier and China while exploring the innate ‘magic’ theme of jewelry, an aspect often overlooked in past exhibitions.”
The exhibition will be open to the public from November 6, 2024, through February 17, 2025, and will be closed on Tuesdays (except for national holidays). Visitors can scan the QR code on the “Art of Cartier” mini-program for reservation and further exhibition details.
Prior to this, on November 3, Cartier held a new NATURE SAUVAGE High Jewelry Exhibition at The Bund’s historic Old City Hall, originally built in 1912. Over 400 pieces, including new creations, high jewelry, high watchmaking, and antique Cartier treasures, were showcased in Shanghai.
The exhibition is divided into three chapters: “Winds of the Wild,” “Earthly Treasures,” and “Flowing Forms,” vividly capturing the vitality of nature through Cartier’s high jewelry creations. Alexandre Auberson, Head of the Cartier Jewelry Institute, and his team hosted jewelry craftsmanship demonstrations and master classes.
The new NATURE SAUVAGE collection reinterprets Cartier’s classic animal motifs from a fresh perspective, presenting distinctively spirited animals like the panther, crocodile, and elephant, appearing in unexpected places within the jewelry as if engaged in a playful game of hide-and-seek. Cartier’s artisans imbue each piece with life through vivid shapes, precise details, and exquisite craftsmanship, highlighting a modern aesthetic.
About the Cartier Collection
Since the 1970s, Cartier has been collecting jewelry, timepieces, and other precious accessories from its early years, carefully preserving and restoring them. In 1983, the Cartier Collection was officially established.
Today, the Cartier Collection spans over 3,500 pieces from the 1850s to the early 21st century and continues to grow. The collection reflects the brand’s legacy of style and creativity over more than 170 years and provides a comprehensive historical narrative of the evolution of decorative arts and social development since the late 19th century.
Since its first major exhibition at the Petit Palais in Paris in 1989, the Cartier Collection has been invited to hold 42 themed exhibitions at prominent global art institutions, gaining wide acclaim in the museum world.
About the Shanghai Museum
The Shanghai Museum is renowned globally as a leading museum of ancient Chinese art. Established in 1952, its origins date back to the Shanghai branch of the Asiatic Society of China, founded in March 1874. As one of the first key national museums jointly developed by central and local governments and a first-class national museum, the Shanghai Museum houses over 1.02 million artifacts, including more than 145,000 precious items. Its collections encompass 33 categories spanning 8,000 years of history, representing a complete array of Chinese ancient art. In addition to presenting Chinese art and culture, the Shanghai Museum has hosted numerous major world art exhibitions, showcasing its global resources and storytelling capabilities. The museum serves as a vital platform for China’s interactions with the world.
| Source: Official Press Release
| Image Credit: Brand Official
| Editor: LeZhi
