Photographer Photo by the Natural Diamond Council and Olesya Okuneva
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The “Big Bang” exhibition is organised by the Natural Diamond Council and is open from November 22 to 24, 2024 for a free visit at La Cite, 71 rue de Reaumur, Paris, France.
The NDC wants to show the beauty of natural diamonds and highlight their importance in our lives, the exhibition also focuses on community and environmental issues.
The exhibition has several main themes: cosmic connection, natural vs artificial and timelessness.
Diamonds are shown as witnesses to the universe’s creation: Sonia Sieff uses diamonds to represent the Big Bang, connecting them to the stars.
Sonia Sieff examines the interplay between the natural and artificial, as well as the living and immortal, using the diamond as a focal point that embodies perfection. She creates a dialogue between nature and luxury, highlighting the contrast between life’s impermanence and the diamond’s timelessness. Pairing each fruit with a diamond symbolises the unique and precious aspects of the natural world, linking the cycle of life to the concept of crystallised perfection.
The exhibition compares natural items, like fruits, with the perfect beauty of diamonds, exploring the relationship between nature and luxury.
Diamonds are displayed alongside classic games, like chess and dominoes, to think about what lasts and what is temporary. Time is seen as a force that shapes beauty, just like how diamonds are formed over millions of years.
Several important artworks on display:
- “Ecrin Originel”: This piece shows diamonds on kimberlite, highlighting how they change from raw stone to sparkling gem.
- “Sculpture du Temps”: Diamonds are shown with games to symbolize how time captures special moments.
- “Beaute Brute”: Unpolished diamonds represent natural beauty and the idea of being strong yet vulnerable.
- “Cadeau de la Nature”: This work contrasts natural textures with the smoothness of diamonds, symbolizing the wonders of nature.
Special videos will show local communities involved in diamond mining, emphasising sustainable practices with discussions how diamonds help support local economies.
The Big Bang exhibition reexamines the precious gem through its cosmic origins while celebrating its contemporary allure with a playful nod to childhood and indulgence. The artist’s use of light, texture, and staging enhances each piece, transforming them into sophisticated works of art that highlight the diamond’s significance as both an object of desire and a symbol of eternity and transformation.
The “Big Bang” exhibition goes beyond traditional art and jewellery – it invites visitors to see diamonds in a new way, as symbols of history and human experience.
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