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Cindy Chao The Art Jewel opens its first museum gallery in Taipei, housing the artist’s most precious and daring works

  • The groundbreaking mini-museum setting provides the perfect backdrop for the maison’s high jewellery pieces
  • Chao collaborated with architect Tom Postma to create a space that reflects the symmetry of classical design

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Cindy Chao The Art Jewel gallery in Taipei marks a new direction for the artist. Photos: Cindy Chao The Art Jewel

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Since 2010, Cindy Chao has had her Black Label Masterpieces on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Now the celebrated art jeweller has taken innovation a step further by opening the Cindy Chao The Art Jewel Gallery at the Regent Taipei, widely considered to be one of the finest hotels in the city. The gallery is the first of its kind for the jeweller.

Augmenting its private showrooms and presence at art fairs and auctions, the new gallery in the heart of Taipei brings the maison’s art jewels into the public realm. All jewellery lovers can now visit the intimate and exclusive space to appreciate the stunning miniature works of art coveted by the world’s top collectors.

Artist Cindy Chao at her new gallery in Taipei.
Artist Cindy Chao at her new gallery in Taipei.

With the elegance of a museum, the gallery is not only a new destination but also a space of surprises and inspiration where visitors can embark on a journey of artistic exploration. The design vision of renowned Dutch architect Tom Postma and the handcrafted bronze walls by French designer Ingrid Donat are underpinned by the imagination of Chao, while the gallery is designed with the symmetrical balance found in classical architecture.

Four specially designed free-standing showcases lining a strong central axis serve as focal points. Designed by a team in Singapore, each picture-frame-style showcase rests on a slender base. Despite weighing nearly 230kg (507 pounds), the balance of each showcase is achieved through a metal frame that acts as a central holder, creating an appearance of weightlessness.

The design and technical ingenuity of these showcases and accompanying display stands reflects the exceptional creativity, innovation, artistry and craftsmanship of the Black Label Masterpieces they house.

The gravity-free showcase at Cindy Chao The Art Jewel Gallery.
The gravity-free showcase at Cindy Chao The Art Jewel Gallery.

Even more theatrical is a large, “gravity-free” showcase embedded in a mirror wall, appearing to float in mid-air. Designed by a team in Belgium, the display enables the art pieces within to move in synchronicity with the lighting. One of these pieces is the maison’s most precious necklace, displayed on an elegant model torso.

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