Motion and Forces

Macdonald joined Van Cleef & Arpels in August 2017. She has previously worked for the UNESCO Sector of Culture in Paris as Assistant Programme Specialist in the Section of Museum, Unit for Africa and the Arab States and as the Director of Exhibitions at Musee Art Science of Singapore. At Van Cleef & Arpels, Macdonald’s role is to manage the Heritage department and oversees the conservation and expansion of the Maison’s vintage pieces collection.

Formerly Artistic Director of the Royal Academy, Marlow has been involved in the contemporary art world for the past thirty years as a curator, writer and broadcaster. He brings a commitment to diverse and engaging programming to his role at the Design Museum showcasing the transformational capability of design. Marlow sits on the Board of Trustees for the Imperial War Museum, Art on the Underground Advisory Board, the Design Age Institute and Cultureshock Media. Marlow was awarded an OBE in 2019.

Ong is a London-based designer and founding Director of her eponymous shoe range, which has won critical acclaim on a global scale. Ong’s designs toe the line between classic and whimsical. Having collaborated with brands as diverse as heritage luxury luggage brand Globe Trotter to Nike, her work has seen her awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2012 and an MBE from HRH Queen Elizabeth II in 2011 in recognition of her services to British Fashion.

Imbued with an appearance of scientific rationality, artist Shawcross’ monumental sculptures explore subjects that lie on the borders of geometry and philosophy, physics and metaphysics. He has completed numerous public commissions including Paradigm (2016) outside the Francis Crick Institute in London, the 50-metre tall The Optic Cloak (2016) in Greenwich, Schism (2020) at Château La Coste and the yet-to-be-installed Manifold (2022) at the Liverpool Street Entrance to the Elizabeth Line.

A free display featuring almost a hundred creations from Van Cleef & Arpels' patrimonial collection, numerous archive documents and lender masterpieces, this exhibition illustrates the French High Jewelry Maison's constant quest to impart movement into precious materials.