Islamic architecture is a girl’s best friend.
That’s not exactly how the saying goes, but Yale School of Architecture professor Jaffer Kolb is going to shine some light on how the geometric art form influenced a Cartier jewelry line.
Kolb joins Sarah Schleuning, curator of the Cartier exhibition, and Kate Aoki, head of exhibition design at the Dallas Museum of Art, for a presentation at 7 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Horchow Auditorium.
“Islamic art was a formative inspiration for Louis Cartier and the Maison Cartier in the early 20th century,” Schleuning said. “This major exhibition explores the analysis and adaptation by Cartier’s designers of shapes, techniques, and materials from India, the Middle East, and North Africa. Through the lens of the Maison Cartier, these elements are part of the creative evolution of the modern stylistic language that continues to inspire new designs.”
The presentation is a partnership between the Dallas Architecture Forum and the Dallas Museum of Art.
Kolb, founder of the design firm New Affiliates, will highlight the ways he collaborated on the Cartier exhibit, designed by Diller Scofidio and Renfro Architects. Kolb will talk about how Cartier was influenced by Islamic architecture and art in designing the jewelry. Kolb’s discussion with Schleuning will be moderated by Aoki, head of exhibition design at the DMA.
“We will be talking about the collaboration between the design team and the DMA team in the years — yes, years — leading up to the exhibition opening,” Aoki said. “The contents and curation of the exhibition itself, of course, had a great impact on how the design was conceptualized and leveraged to tell the story of the objects and the connections between Islamic art and the jewelry. Jaffer and Sarah will discuss how the final design concept evolved, and how elements such as the animations in the exhibition transcend a traditional built environment to maximize space and experience.”
The Cartier and Islamic Art exhibit is on display at the Dallas Museum of Art through Sept. 18.
