Waris Ahluwalia and Demet Muftuoglu EseliThe concept of jewelry as fine art has been around practically since the origins of precious materials themselves. House of Waris designer Waris Ahluwalia's jewelry is already a part of this tradition, having shown work everywhere from the Museum of Arts & Design to Colette. His latest exhibition, featuring a curated selection of his designs as well as never-before-seen pieces, just opened in Istanbul.
Put on by Istanbul '74, the organization which works to connect the city with the global arts and culture circuit, the show is housed on the first floor of a 150-year-old business-inn in the Karaköy neighborhood. (Istanbul 74's founder, Demet Muftuoglu Eseli, is profiled in W's September Issue)
House of Waris jewelryTo complement the jewelry on display, Turkish design duo Autoban completely transformed the exhibition space. A painted panel featuring a lush, vegetal landscape serves as a backdrop to the pieces, which rest under glass orbs on wooden pedestals. Echoes of nature are found in the jewelry, like a bracelet that looks like an opening palm front, or a necklace with two bejeweled horns.
Add this one to your travel itinerary, and fast, as the show wraps up on November 9th.
