Van Cleef & Arpels Creates Most Stylish Jewelry Pathway in Tokyo

I miss Tokyo, with its endless art galleries and exhibitions. I once saw the intricate work of the ikebana artist Atsunobu Katagiri at the Kyoto Cherry Blossom Festival and was amazed by his skill in blending traditional and modern techniques. Born in Osaka, Japan, in 1973, he became the head of the Sakai City Imperial Mausoleum School of Ikebana at just 24 years old in 1997. He writes columns about flower arranging for some media outlets. His unique style, which combines a modern Zen spirit with ikebana, has led many artists from different fields to collaborate with him.

Whether it’s wildflowers by the roadside or large-scale installation art centered around cherry blossoms, his floral art not only deepens the concept of animism — the original core idea of flower arranging — but also creates a unique sense of space through fresh flowers.

In 2018, Atsunobu Katagiri made a flower artwork called “Perlude/萌芽” at Van Cleef & Arpels shop in Shinsaibashi. This artwork used three elements. During the Tokyo exhibition in Daikanyama, Van Cleef & Arpels showed their beautiful jewelry in a setting with a Japanese feel. It felt like adding a mix of art and nature during the pandemic.

During the limited-time exhibition “LIGHT OF FLOWERS” held at the Tsutaya Books Daikanyama T-SITE Garden Gallery in Tokyo, Atsunobu Katagiri’s floral art creations draw inspiration from the nature-inspired high jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels.

At this exhibition, there will be fun flower workshops and talks called “In bloom~wearing flowers.” Katagiri admires Van Cleef & Arpels for their ability to showcase the lively beauty of flowers through gemstones and precious metals. He even feels a similar desire to collaborate with the renowned jewelry house to elevate natural flowers into miniature works of art.

Katagiri said, “Van Cleef & Arpels shares the same philosophy of cherishing nature as I do. The jewelry pieces at this exhibition will soon engage in a dialogue and exchange between jewelry, art, and nature with my floral creations.”

The jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels not only highlights a spirit of excellence in jewelry design but also reflects a keen observation of nature. Many of their pieces inspired by nature capture the soft texture of petals and the fleeting beauty of flowers blooming, leaving viewers captivated and mesmerized.

Crafted by skilled artisans who cherish nature, these exquisite jewels showcase the delicate beauty of flowers in a timeless and radiant manner.

Are these beautiful creations jewelry or flowers? Through the exhibition, Van Cleef & Arpels will engage in a heartfelt exchange of ideas with my floral creations, sharing a philosophy that cherishes nature and celebrates innate beauty.

This exhibition also includes a variety of flower workshops and discussion events, such as the “In bloom~wearing flowers” themed workshop. Children will have the opportunity to wear floral decorations specially crafted by Mr. Katagiri, allowing them to appreciate the artistry of flowers and deepen their understanding of aesthetics through exploring the beauty and transformation of flowers.

In the “My Vision of Flowers” online lecture event, Van Cleef & Arpels sincerely invite Mr. Katagiri and contemporary artists Mr. Yoshihiro Soda and Mr. Kiyoshi Kuroda to participate. These contemporary artists will discuss the special significance of “flowers” to themselves and delve into the active, beautiful, and exceptional role flowers play in shaping the future of art.