Within the 142-year-old walls of Shanghai’s Zhangyuan complex, the annals of the serpent unravel. An immersive experience featuring  28 artworks by 19 Chinese and international artists, 11 of which were created exclusively for the occasion, introduce guests to the saga of the serpent as told by Bvlgari’s Serpenti Infinito Exhibition. 

Divided into three chapters ー Crafting Serpents in History, Snakes in the Arts, and Contemporary Transformations ー the exhibition revolves around a variety of pieces created by a cast of talented traditional, visual and ceramic artists, as well as sculptors and installation experts. Media artist, director and pioneer in data aesthetics and machine intelligence, Refik Anadol, produced a three dimensional sculpture reflected through a 360-degree mirrored room, while artists Daniel Rozin, Hong Seung-Hye, Azza Al Qubaisi, and Victor Nouman Garcia, representative of the art collective Utopia Arabia, expanded on the snake’s historical and contemporary transformations. 

Guests were also met with a selection from Bvlgari Heritage, watches and fine jewelry collections, including several unreleased High Jewelry one-of-a-kind creations, in a visual tribute to the craftsmanship and ever-changing iterations behind the luxury Roman brand’s infamous serpentine symbol. Further developing the experience’s immersive nature, Bvlgari artisans will lead interactive workshops showcasing the Maison’s exceptional craftsmanship, inviting viewers to explore the many interpretations born out of the snake. 

Prior to the exhibition’s opening, an early evening cocktail party hosted by Bvlgari’s CEO Jean-Christophe Babin wined and dined a number of international artists and friends of the luxury brand. Exhibition curator Cao Dan and exhibition space designer Zhang Shuojiong were joined by Andrew Wu, LVMH Greater China President, and Tiziana D’Angelo, Consul General of Italy in Shanghai. Indonesian actress and singer Cinta Laura Kiehl consorted with Vietnamese singer Ho Ngoc Ha and Bvlgari Global Ambassadors Anne Hathaway and Liu Yifei, each wearing a delectable set of Serpenti creations, and Chinese actors Meng Ziyi, Li Yunrui, and Chen Xingxu were also in attendance. 

Following the Serpenti Infinito Exhibition, Bvlgari also hosted a Chinese New Year Bazaar in which guests could enjoy a variety of Chinese rituals in honor of the Year of the Snake. From personalized lucky cards to handmade Serpenti shadow puppets to bites of iconic Chinese dishes, Bvlgari effectively tied the dazzling exhibition to the traditions underpinning the Serpenti. 

The snake stands as an iconic Bvlgari emblem, the Serpenti going back some 75 years when it was originally released as a bracelet-watch in 1948. The snake evolved as a characteristic motif of the Bvlgari brand, acquiring a set of bejeweled eyes, in the form of emeralds, rubies or sapphires, before collecting precious layers of sheet gold for scales in the 60s. It was also around this time that actress Elizabeth Taylor bought a Bvlgari Serpenti watch while filming Cleopatra in Rome, and her romantic entanglement with co-star Richard Burton inadvertently played a role in expanding Bvlgari’s renown. Entering the 21st century, the symbol prevailed. The winding vipers adorned sets of necklaces, bracelets and rings, their scales embellished with precious gemstones such as lapis lazuli, jade, coral and onyx. 

Yet, the snake’s mythological roots stretch far beyond Bvlgari’s dazzling interpretations. Having inspired countless legends, the sinuous creatures stand as captivating sources of storytelling, symbolism, and seduction. The pharaohs donned a symbol of the snake on their crowns, deeming it a symbol of protection and legitimacy. In ancient Greece and Roman times, snakes were identified as sources of healing, as well as effective weapons of warfare. Cleopatra famously favored snake jewelry, and in 1839, Prince Albert gifted Queen Victoria an 18-carat gold ring in a serpent design, reinforcing the reptile’s opulent pedigree. Centuries later, the snack remains an ever-evolving symbol, a multifaceted testament to great figures of time past, and through the Serpenti Infinito Exhibition its legacy endures.