Van Cleef & Arpels: A World of Wonder Expressed Through the Art of Light

Interview: Hugues Reip × Hitoshi Miki, CEO

The Maison's World, Expressed Through Light Art

To commemorate its 40th anniversary in Japan, Van Cleef & Arpels held its first-ever projection mapping event on December 11-12 at Yebisu Garden Place. We spoke with French artist Hugues Reip, who created the fantastical "Fairy Castle," about his vision and artistic process, joined by Hitoshi Miki, President & CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels Japan.

Text by Ryoji FUKUTOME

The Fantastical Fairy Castle

Van Cleef & Arpels (VCA) celebrates 40 years since its arrival in Japan. The year 1973, when VCA first landed, was right in the midst of Japan's period of high economic growth. It's impossible not to feel the momentum of Japan at the time, welcoming such a world-renowned, prestigious jewelry maison.

An event commemorating VCA's 40th anniversary in Japan was held on December 11th and 12th. The concept was "Fairy Castle – A Castle Where Fairies Dwell." At the venue, the Château Restaurant Joël Robuchon in Ebisu, exquisitehigh jewelrypieces were displayed alongside art depicting the fairies that inspired them. The highlight, however, was the projection mapping shown on the château restaurant itself. The beautiful, vibrant, and fantastical art captivated invited guests and onlookers alike.

The projection mapping, along with the motifs displayed within the venue, was created by Hugues Reip, a French artist known for his unique creations in drawing, sculpture, and video.

“I was already familiar with VCA. While it’s a jewelry maison, I felt they created something with value and a worldview that transcended mere jewelry. Collaborating with such a maison felt like a challenging task, but our artistic visions were quite aligned, making the process enjoyable.”

Hitoshi Miki, CEO of VCA Japan, who commissioned the work, added, “Mr. Reip is an artist whose work often features motifs like flowers and stones. His artistic vision aligns perfectly with VCA’s, and we were confident he was the ideal person to express what we envisioned. That’s why we decided to entrust him with the project and give him creative freedom.”

The collaboration, born from mutual admiration, proceeded smoothly without major issues. For Reip, however, projection mapping was a completely new endeavor.

“First, I created sketches, and then we refined the overall concept. I envisioned the maison as a planet, adding elements like plants, flowers, and fairies. The work progressed well, but I was working on my computer in my New York studio, so I felt a great deal of uncertainty about the scale. I worried if the proportions would be right, as I hadn't actually seen the building itself (laughs).”

The resulting fantastical light art was truly magnificent, deeply moving not only the invited guests but also many others present. CEO Miki, who had chosen Reip for the project, was also highly satisfied: “It was wonderful. Most importantly, the audience seemed to find it wonderful, and that’s what matters most.”

Van Cleef & Arpels transforms its anniversary events from mere parties into works of art. This dreamlike world was etched into the eyes and will remain in the hearts of many who experienced it.

Hitoshi MIKI
Born in 1961. After graduating from Doshisha University's Faculty of Law in 1985, he joined Kashiyama (Onward Kashiyama). From 2002, he served as the representative in Japan for Chloé International S.A. and subsequently as President & CEO of Richemont F&A Japan Ltd. and Chloé. In 2011, he became Worldwide Commercial Director for Chloé International S.A., based in Paris, leading commercial strategy for the global sales division. He assumed the position of President & CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels Japan in 2013.

Hugues Reip
Born in Cannes in 1964, Reip lives in Paris. As a French artist, he is known for creating unique worlds using diverse media such as drawing, sculpture, video, and neon. In 2008, as part of the 150th anniversary of Franco-Japanese relations, he exhibited in "Parallel Worlds: Another World" at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. His imaginative works, both mysterious and warm, captivated audiences worldwide.