On February 18 and 19, jewelry house Cartier hosted a selection of special guests for an exhibition like no other. Vogue Arabia invites you along for the ride.
Photo: Instagram.com/louvreabudhabi
For years, Cartier has given the world incredible jewelry pieces to fall in love with. Sourcing the most brilliant gemstones and melding them into stunning designs, the maison has paid homage to all corners of the earth with its collections, celebrating the rich art and history found across the globe, from India to Africa and more.
Among Cartier’s archives, however, lies a selection of majestic pieces that look to Islamic art for inspiration. Now, the maison has brought together close to 400 such artifacts — ranging from art to jewelry, to drawings and photographs — which are being displayed at Louvre Abu Dhabi under the exhibition titled ‘Cartier, Islamic Inspiration and Modern Design’.
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To celebrate the showcase, the jewelry house brought together some of the region’s most-loved faces, from Yousra and Dhafer L’Abidine, to Rym Saidi, Razane Jammal and Nadine Labaki, for an immersive 48 hours that allowed all to explore Louis and Jacques Cartier’s appreciation and curiosity for Islamic art, and how this fascination played a key role in creating a brand new aesthetic for Maison Cartier. On display were pieces embedded with sapphires and emeralds, Iranian turquoise, Afghan lapis lazuli, and all the colors of the Ottoman ceramics from Iznik. The immersive experience then transitioned into a celebration none would forget.
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On the evening of February 19, celebrities, connoisseurs and enthusiasts came together once again for Cartier, to experience a power-packed gala reception. After a panel discussion that focused on the maison’s journey and its undying bond with the region, guests were treated to a special address by Manuel Rabate, director of Loouvre Abu Dhabi, and Cyrille Vigneron, president and CEO of Cartier. Then it was time for a spectacular musical performance by opera singer and head of the music section for the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development of UAE, Fatima Alhashmi. Following her, the evening came to a close with a series of impressive dance performances — another reminder that there is no dearth of art and inspiration in the Middle East.
Below, take a closer look at some of the most gorgeous pieces from the ‘Cartier, Islamic Inspiration and Modern Design’ exhibition.
Photo: Instagram.com/louvreabudhabi
Photo: Instagram.com/louvreabudhabi
Photo: Instagram.com/louvreabudhabi
Photo: Instagram.com/louvreabudhabi
