This November, L’ÉCOLE Middle East, the School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, will unveil Poetry of Birds—an evocative exhibition celebrating the dialogue between art, poetry, and jewelry. Opening on November 6, 2025, during Dubai Design Week, the exhibition will run until April 25, 2026, in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District (d3), a global creative ecosystem by TECOM Group PJSC. It marks a cultural milestone for the region, blending Western jewelry craftsmanship with the poetic traditions and artistic heritage of the Middle East.
Following acclaimed editions in Paris and Tokyo, Poetry of Birds takes flight in Dubai with a unique curatorial lens that explores how 19th and 20th-century Western jewelry converses with Islamic art. The exhibition draws inspiration from Farid al-Din Attar’s 12th-century Persian masterpiece The Conference of the Birds, unfolding as a lyrical journey through symbolism, spirituality, and craft. Visitors will encounter an extraordinary collection of jewels and precious objects from master jewellers such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Buccellati, Boucheron, and Fabergé, presented alongside rare Islamic artworks—ceramics, carpets, metalwork, and miniatures—on loan from the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization and Dubai Museums.
Emirati artist Faisal Al Rais makes his public debut within this context, showcasing photography that captures the grace, symbolism, and resilience of birds from the Middle East and beyond. The exhibition culminates in a spectacular presentation of Pierre Sterlé’s imagined aviary—a universe where fantasy, movement, and beauty converge in a poetic meditation on flight and freedom. As exhibition curator Marie-Laure Cassius-Duranton explains, “Birds have long held a sacred place in Middle Eastern culture—as emblems of freedom and spirit. With Poetry of Birds, we wanted to honor that tradition while revealing how these symbols transcend continents through art and jewelry.”
Timed with Dubai Design Week 2025, the exhibition’s opening positions it as a central event in the city’s cultural season. On November 8, L’ÉCOLE Middle East will host an Open House Day—an invitation to the community to discover jewelry arts through workshops, guided tours, and creative experiences for both adults and children. The event will bring together poetry, calligraphy, music, and design in an environment that celebrates craftsmanship and creativity.
“Through Poetry of Birds, we aim to make the world of jewelry arts accessible to all,” shares Sophie Claudel, Director of L’ÉCOLE Middle East. “This exhibition creates an immersive experience that bridges Eastern and Western traditions, combining artistry and symbolism in a dialogue that celebrates human imagination.” Her sentiment is echoed by Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of d3, who describes the partnership as “a union of global craftsmanship and regional creativity, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a nexus for culture and design.”
Running for six months, Poetry of Birds will be accompanied by a comprehensive cultural program of talks, workshops, and courses inspired by the exhibition’s themes. True to L’ÉCOLE’s educational mission, the initiative encourages discovery across its three core disciplines—the history of jewelry, the world of gemstones, and the art of jewelry-making.
Furthering its philanthropic mission, L’ÉCOLE Middle East will continue its collaboration with Dubai Cares. In line with both institutions’ commitment to education and youth empowerment, all proceeds from L’ÉCOLE’s public courses and talks will be donated to Dubai Cares, supporting global educational initiatives for children and young adults.
