Beneath the glittering golden domes of Moscow's Kremlin, a sparkling collection of jewellery is now adding lustre to the museum's interior. We meet the first jewellery designer to give a solo exhibition there since Faberge in 1917.
"Jewels Inspired by Nature" features works created by the Russian jewellery designer Ilgiz Fazulzyanov over the last twenty years, along with his sketches and drawings.
"These objects are made in such a technique that… there are not so many jewellers who know this technique and use it in their works," said Ilgiz Fazulzyanov, jeweller.
Ilgiz Fazulzyanov and one of his creations
"Another thing that unites them is that every object represents my feelings, my thoughts, everything that happens to me during the day, the week, the month, the year, everything is here. It's a whole story of a certain period of life."
The artist's love of nature is evident in his recurring themes of flowers and birds.
The artist's love of nature is evident in his recurring themes of flowers and birds.
The exhibition also includes enamelled dials with miniature paintings the designer created for Swiss watchmaker Bovet.
"You know the art of Bovet is through human-beings, artisans… (pausing for translation) uniqueness, sincerity, emotion (pausing for translation). This ability of Ilgiz to do jewellery, to do a dial in the pure tradition of the 19th century, makes him a genius artisan," said Pascal Raffy, Bovet owner.
Works of Ilgiz Fazulzyanov
Fazulzyanov, who works under the name Ilgiz F, is one of very few jewellers in the world who has mastered a full range of techniques such as filigree, engraving, coining, and hot enamel.
International experts compare the complexity and artistic quality of his pieces with the best creations by French Art Nouveau artists such as Rene Jules Lalique and Georges Fouquet.
"We show unusual works of - I dare say it - a genius artist. The creations of Ilgiz have no equals in the world," said Yelena Gagarina, director, Moscow Kremlin Museums.
In 2011 and 2013, Ilgiz F received the highest awards at the Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition.
The exhibition runs at the Kremlin from the 31st of March to the 31st of July 2016.
Works of Ilgiz Fazulzyanov
