Van Cleef & Arpels Maison celebrated the art of High Jewelry at the VII edition of the most anticipated art exhibition in the Kingdom, 21,39 Jeddah Arts. Organized by the Saudi Art Council and commenced on January 29 in the thriving city of Jeddah, this year's event under the theme of "I Love You, Urgently" focused on the environmental concerns and places the youth at the core of this exhibition. For the fifth time in a row, Van Cleef & Arpels collaborates with 21,39 Jeddah Arts. This edition focuses on the Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East Emergent Designer Prize, the yearly award which aims to nurture local design talent. A concept of ‘Past, Present & Future', which celebrates Julia Ibbini, the winner of 2019, a Cyclical theme, whose impressive ‘Symbio Vessels' winning sculptural vessels will be displayed at Jeddah Arts 21,39. It is during this period that Van Cleef & Arpels will announce the Call for the 2020 Middle East Emergent Designer Prize. Julia used paper to create a total of 4 vessels displaying the idea of contrasts and collaboration Launched in 2013, the Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East Emergent Designer Prize, in collaboration with Tashkeel, is an initiative focused on supporting regional designers and exhibiting unique artwork responding to the given theme every year. The prize presents a unique opportunity for designers to show their work to a global audience with manufacturing and production support from the two partners. The prize is judged by Van Cleef & Arpels, Tashkeel, Hani Asfour – Dean of the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DiDi), and an established professional designer from the region. In 2019 the competition saw many entrants across the Middle East, keen to participate and showcase their talent, responding to the given theme of ‘Cyclical'. Van Cleef & Arpels has partnered with UAE-based visual art and design organization, Tashkeel, since 2013. Through a strong commitment of both leading entities, today, the prize continues to shine a spotlight on the wealth of creativity and design talent thriving across the region. The partnership encourages creativity, art and passion in Middle Eastern based designers. In November 2019, Jordanian-British designer Julia Ibbini won the Award, winning a trip to L'ECOLE Van Cleef & Arpels, a school dedicated to sharing the culture and crafts knowledge behind the world of jewelry. In addition, AED 30,000 was awarded to her to cover the entire cost of materials and production of her design piece. Julia Ibbini is the winner of Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East Emerging Designer Prize 2019. Julia's design ‘Symbio Vessels', revolves around a special build process of both a sequential back-and-forth and an interactive collaboration between human and machines. These pieces play between contrasting yet complementary, distinct but related concepts, both in the design and feel of the final form and in the bold experimentation of the beautiful, tactile and delicate qualities of paper. Van Cleef & Arpels celebrates its 7th Edition of its Van Cleef & Arpels Middle East Emergent Designer Prize, in partnership with Tashkeel. During the opening of 21,39 Jeddah Arts, the Maison launches its Call Out to designers of the region for the 2020 Edition. Emerging designers are invited to submit designs for functional products to explore the theme of Flora, a dear source of inspiration for Van Cleef & Arpels. Exploring elements of line, pattern, pattern, texture and material, designers are asked to consider the potential of the relationship between these components through interaction or contrast. Visit https://tashkeel.org/ for information on how to apply. Alessandro Maffi, Van Cleef & Arpels Managing Director Middle East and India, said "participating in this new edition of 21,39 Jeddah Arts continues to strengthen the Maison's promise in supporting the local art and design scene of the Kingdom. This exclusive exhibition will be the occasion to celebrate designers and encourage creativity, art and passion in the Middle East, while welcoming the connoisseurs into the universe of Van Cleef & Arpels." Additionally, visitors will have the opportunity to view the extraordinary display of work by Arthur Hoffner, who has artistically created an installation suffused with balance and suspended motion, echoing the Perlée collection from the Maison. Arthur, the winner of the People's Choice Award at the 2017 Villa Noailles Design Parade, collaborated with the Maison to produce a series of vases combining gilded brass spheres, aluminum tubes and blocks of marble put together in a precarious composition that appears to defy the laws of gravity. Arthur's creations is displayed at the newly opened Van Cleef & Arpels boutique at El Khayyat Centre, Jeddah, until February 8. — SG
