The exhibit hall at the PMQ in Hong Kong island. © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photo by E. Gaillou.
The Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech worked with the School of Jewelry Arts to put a temporary exhibition together in Hong Kong for 3 weeks in September 2017. Eight pairs of rough minerals from the Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech and pieces of jewelry from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection were united for the themed exhibit: STONES OF THE SKY, STONES OF FIRE. Stones of fire were represented by carnelian, citrine, rhodonite, and of course ruby. Lapis-lazuli, sapphire, amethyst and turquoise were chosen to represent the stones of the sky.
In parallel with the exhibit, a photographic contest was organized by the School as part of their Legacy Program. Eight young talents from Hong Hong were given a pair of “raw and refined” stones to express their creativity: Mandy Li, Aso So, Kenny Li, Frank Lai, Issac Lam, Seewhy, Dennis Wong and Penny Tu. The art pieces created by the photographers were exhibited next to the stones, in the exhibit hall. At the end of the School, a winner will be elected.
An evening conversation invited people to discover the rough minerals behind the gemstones and the jewelry: “Stones of the sky, stones of fire”, by Eloïse Gaillou, curator at the Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech, and by Gislain Aucremanne, professor at the School of Jewelry Arts, on September 26, 2017.
Gislain Aucremanne, co-speaker of the evening conversation for the lecture on "Stones of the sky, stones of fire", testing the presentation. © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photo by E. Gaillou.
The School of Jewelry Arts settles down from September 15th until October 1st, 2017 at the PMQ center in Central Hong Kong. The PMQ is the former Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters. In 2014, it reopens as a site welcoming creative industries. The building is divided into open space studios, where young creators exhibit and sell their products. In the center of the PMQ, the “Qube” studio hosts temporary exhibitions and workshops, which is where the School of Jewelry Arts installed its Nomad School.
L'Ecole - School of Jewelry Arts - at the PMQ in Hong Kong Island. The central studio is also called the "Qube". © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photo by E. Gaillou.
The loundge area of the School of Jewelry Arts. © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photo by E. Gaillou.
The exhibit hall is freely accessible to the public. Eight display cases with the rough minerals from the Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech and the jewels from the Van Cleef & Arpels museum are presented, associated with the photographs of the young Hong Kong talents.
Rough carnelian from the Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech and carnelian and onyx earrings and necklace from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. Art piece above by Kenny Li "Galatea". © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photos by E. Gaillou.
Rough sapphires from the Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech and sapphir umbrella ring and bouquet clip from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. Art piece above by Dennis Wong "Dot dot dot". © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photos by E. Gaillou.
Rough rhodonite from the Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech and rhodonite and onyx from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photo by E. Gaillou.
Rough lapis-lazuli and lazurite from the Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech and lapis-lazuli necklace from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photo by E. Gaillou.
Two rough rubies from the Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech and Fern ruby clip from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. Art piece above by Seewhy "Raw ruby refined". © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photos by E. Gaillou.
Rough amethyst from the Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech and amethyst necklace from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. Art piece above by Mandy Lam "Behind the Glamour". © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photos by E. Gaillou.
Turquoise rough mineral from the Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech and bird pin from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. Art piece above by Penny Tu (untitled). © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photos by E. Gaillou.
Citrine rough crystals from the Mineralogy Museum MINES ParisTech and necklace from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. Art piece above by Aso So "Objective is the origin". © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photos by E. Gaillou.
On each side of the exhibit hall, classes are taking place: jewelry history, gemology, jewelry crafts, etc. Workshops are even transported into the Hong Kong site, along with the professors and jewelry workers.
The craftmanship classroom at the School of Jewelry Arts in Hong Kong. © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photo by E. Gaillou.
One of the gemology classrooms at the School of Jewelry Arts in Hong Kong. © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photo by E. Gaillou.
The PMQ, where the temporary exhibit is hosted, is located in Hong Kong Island. It is an astonishing city with high risers, which turns into a feast of light at night. The heat and humidity are unavoidable, unless when going inside of the buildings, which are highly air conditioned!
View into the Hong Kong bay from The Peak. © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photo by E. Gaillou.
View of the Center Tower of Hong Kong Island from The Peak. © Musée de Minéralogie MINES ParisTech / Photo by E. Gaillou.
Thanks to the School of Jewelry Arts which offered the Mineralogy Museum this amazing opportunity to exhibit its own rough jewels in Hong Kong.
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Musée de Minéralogie
Mines Paris - PSL
60 boulevard Saint Michel
75006 Paris
OPENING HOURS:
TUESDAY: 10am - 12pm and 1:30pm - 6pm.
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY: 1:30pm - 6pm
SATURDAY: 10am - 12:30pm and 2pm - 5pm
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