National Palace Museum

“Beauty Speaks for Itself” Unboxed: Dazzling Splendors of Classic, Avant-Garde, and Fashion

The National Palace Museum (NPM) joined hands with the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and Van Cleef & Arpels to present the special exhibition titled “Beauty Speaks for Itself—Selected works from the National Palace Museum, Paris’ Musée des Arts Décoratifs and Van Cleef & Arpels” that shall have its grand opening on September 26 at the NPM Northern Branch. An unboxing press conference was held today (September 19) to offer a glimpse at the selected works from the three partners, including “Revolving Openwork Vase with Dragon and Lotus Decoration in Yangcai Painted Enamels” from the National Palace Museum, “Buire de Blois” from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, and the iconic “Zip” necklace from Van Cleef & Arpels. The fashion and splendor of classical and avant-garde elegance is showcased via the pinnacles of the Eastern and Western aesthetics and craftsmanship.

At the unboxing press conference, NPM Director Tsung-Huang Hsiao, Deputy Directors Yung-Tai Huang and Pei-Chin Yu, and Secretary General Hsiao-Te Hsu were all present to welcome the curatorial team of “Beauty Speaks for Itself,” including the esteemed guests who had come from afar like Béatrice Quette, Curator, Head of Asian and Islamic collections at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and Alexandrine Maviel Sonet, Director of Patrimony and Exhibitions at Van Cleef & Arpels as well as distinguished guests such as Emile M.P. Chang, Chief Executive Officer of InvesTaiwan, to kick off the exhibition.

NPM Director Tsung-Huang Hsiao expressed his appreciation to the curatorial teams of the National Palace Museum, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and Van Cleef & Arpels for overcoming the challenges of COVID-19 and spending seven years in curating the special exhibition “Beauty Speaks for Itself” so as to present the event of the year for cultural exchange at home and abroad. This exhibition brings together the finest collections from the three museums, exhibiting over 260 exquisite treasures. To be presented consecutively at the Northern and Southern Branches of the National Palace Museum, the exhibition shall open a new chapter for the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the National Palace Museum next year. It is expected that through the crossover dialogue of the Eastern and Western artifacts, decorative arts, and high jewelry, combined with innovative exhibition design, an unprecedented visual feast shall be brought to life for visitors to relish the timeless charm of art that transcends borders. Director Hsiao also added that the curatorial team of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and Van Cleef & Arpels has been extremely meticulous in exhibition planning, lighting design, and security measures, offering a valuable learning experience for the fellow staff at the National Palace Museum. Moving forward, Hsiao expects to engage in more in-depth exchanges with museums around the world.

At the unboxing press conference, Pei-Chin Yu, NPM Deputy Director, Béatrice Quette, Curator, Head of Asian and Islamic collections at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and Alexandrine Maviel Sonet, Director of Patrimony and Exhibitions at Van Cleef & Arpels, successively walked the press through the highlighted exhibits in the key visual of the exhibition, expounded the five exhibition themes, i.e., Nature, Movement, Fantasy, Secrets, and Colors, and introduced three representative exhibits in depth.

Revolving Openwork Vase with Dragon and Lotus Decoration in Yangcai Painted Enamels from the National Palace Museum has an intricate structure, consisting of a neck, body, inner vase, and base, nested as a piece. The inner vase depicts colorful clouds of auspice and red bats, while the outer body features openwork painted patterns of two pairs of dragons holding lotus blossoms and lingzhi mushrooms in their mouths. When the neck of the vase is turned, the inner vase rotates accordingly, allowing viewers to appreciate the bats flying amidst the colorful clouds of auspice via the openwork design. This playful design showcases dynamics of magnificence and resplendence, reflecting Emperor Qianlong’s affinity for elegance as well as the spirit to pursue innovation and novelty that ushered in the manifold artistic trend in the Qianlong reign.

“Buire de Blois” from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs is a masterpiece of the 19-century luxury craftsmanship of France, produced by the eminent Manufacture de Sèvres in France in collaboration with various artists. Sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse drew inspirations from the Renaissance artistic expressions to design the overall shape, sculptures, and painted decorations. The base color of the ewer and the pâte-sur-pâte technique originate from Asian ceramic craftsmanship, exhibiting a perfect union of exquisite craftsmanship and aesthetics.

The “Zip” necklace, an avant-garde piece from Van Cleef & Arpels, was inspired by the zip fastener on aviator jackets and uniforms. The necklace was patented in 1938 and produced in 1950. Artfully leveraging the tassel zip fastener design, the Zip necklace is a necklace when open, or a bracelet when closed. It is lined with heart motifs in rolled gold-filled wire and punctuated with emeralds and diamonds. Embodying the affinity and creativity for transformability at Van Cleef & Arpels, the piece manifests a captivating charm interlaced with mobility and ingenuity.

“Beauty Speaks for Itself” brings together the finest collections from the National Palace Museum, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and Van Cleef & Arpels. The exhibition shall be on display at the NPM Northern Branch from September 26 to December 29, before moving to the NPM Southern Branch in Chiayi for showcase from January 23 to April 20 next year (2025). You are cordially invited to visit and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Palace Museum together.

BEAUTY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF—Selected works from the National Palace Museum, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and Van Cleef & Arpels

• Galleries 105 & 107, Northern Branch, National Palace Museum
  September 26 – December 29, 2024
• Gallery S101, Southern Branch, National Palace Museum
  January 23 – April 20, 2025