“The feeling of breaking new ground, not knowing quite what one is doing, and being open to wonder and awe are, I would suggest, all essential prerequisites to the most rewarding of adventures, of any kind in life,” muses Tilda Swinton.
These are ideas that both Swinton and the Parisian jeweller Cartier know to be true. It marks the basis for the house’s new Into the Wild collection, and the first Cartier campaign which Swinton stars in as a newly appointed global ambassador.
The revered actress has never shied from the experimental; her striking aptitude for life has found vivid expression across the many roles and forms she has assumed. This is no different for her next chapter with Cartier, where craft takes centre stage and imagination is left untethered.
From her time as a Cambridge student to winning an Academy Award, two BAFTAs, and a Volpi Cup, alongside nominations for five Actor Awards and four Golden Globe Awards, Swinton’s success has been hard-earned. Yet accolades have never been what drives her, nor have they defined her lust for life. Instead, her work is fuelled by a deep devotion to storytelling—to the craft, and to its possibilities across every medium.
In a series of short films voiced by Swinton, Cartier spotlights artisans and their traditional crafts, from gold lacquer and marquetry to mosaic and paper bas-reliefs. Accompanying these artisans and their craft are, of course, the maison’s bejewelled animals and the myriad ways they’ve been brought to life by this maison.
“What strikes me about Into the Wild is that these creatures don’t simply represent something—they seem to exist entirely on their own terms. Through extraordinary craftsmanship, imagination, and a great deal of wit, Cartier gives each of them a distinct and vibrant character,” says the actress.
Woven into these handcrafted, utterly fantastical universes lies a resolute humanity. Despite the whimsical jewelled forms taken by the animals, their existence is only made possible by the touch of skilled hands and the human ingenuity to imagine these possibilities.
“They feel wonderfully alive, as though each has stepped into the world carrying its own story and eager to share it,” shares Swinton. “This encounter with the savage wilderness is a wholly benign one, a child’s dream of the far horizon, exotic though it might be, and of harmony and companionable friendship between all.”
In an exclusive interview for Vogue Singapore, the actress speaks on imbuing her creative expression into her new role as Cartier’s global ambassador, and what drew her to the fantastical Into the Wild universe.
What drew you to the spirit of these magnetic creatures from the Into the Wild collection?
The glamour and mystery of the jungle and the wide savanna occupies a similar space in my imagination to the landscapes of wildernesses closer to home which I hold so dear. The distinctive, solitary bearing and self-determined authority of these creatures, each of them ever more rare on our planet, means that they are, by their very definition, precious treasure, like the jewels that bring them to life in Cartier’s hands. They elicit both our admiration and our desire for companionship with them—they provoke connection.
Cartier’s animal-inspired jewellery has a rich history. What resonates with you most about the maison’s approach to bringing these creatures to life?
The true alchemy of these works, throughout Cartier’s legendary story, is the fact of the artistry with which they are made, and the way in which the spirit of their subject is conjured by the spirits of the magnificent artisans who craft them. Each detail resonates and moves with breathtaking inventiveness and flair, never expected, and always redefining an established code of the house.
The iconic panther reigns supreme in Cartier’s fauna. What does this emblematic creature, and the collection’s diverse animal repertoire, signify to you?
Charisma, poise, authority, solitude, unassailable beauty—and supreme dignity.
The Into the Wild collection speaks of a “freedom of spirit” transmitted by these creatures. How does this echo your creative expression?
‘Into the Wild’ describes, in my opinion, the crucial first step onto a fresh trail when beginning a new artistic endeavour. The feeling of breaking new ground, not knowing quite what one is doing, and being open to wonder and awe are, I would suggest, all essential prerequisites to the most rewarding of adventures, of any kind in life.
The campaign imagery creates a striking dialogue between you and the creatures of the Into the Wild collection. What drew you to this creative universe?
The atmosphere of fantasia and the promise of transport into a narrative world both far away and highly delightful in its atmosphere of whimsy and fable.
The creatures of Into the Wild each possess a distinct character and identity. Was there one that particularly resonated with you?
I have become extremely fond of the crocodile. He is so smiley. And he holds diamonds in his teeth…
