Jacqueline Bulnés is a Cuban-American artist born in Miami, Florida, best known for her career as a soloist in the companies of Martha Graham, José Limón and Merce Cunningham Trust in New York. She teaches at the Scuola dell’Opera di Roma and the Accademia d’Arte del Dramma Antico in Siracusa, in addition to holding international masterclasses. For .bijouets she performed wearing a special piece, produced on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of Modigliani’s birth.

She answered those few questions about this experience.

1. Jacqueline, as a dancer, how did you approach interpreting Modigliani’s art through movement?

What captivated me most was the love shared between Modigliani and Jeanne, his muse. I see love and art as inseparable forces—each fueling the other. Their relationship felt like a natural extension of my own creative expression. Through movement, I sought to convey their connection—how their love transcended words and took form in the way they inspired each other. My dance became an interpretation of that energy, allowing their story to unfold through every gesture and step.

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2. The necklace you wore is quite special, inspired by 7 Modigliani portraits. How did wearing this piece influence your performance? 

The necklace felt like a bridge between me and the art, as if it held the essence of Modigliani’s world within its design. Since receiving it, it’s become almost a part of me—I haven’t felt the need to take it off. There’s something powerful about wearing a piece that carries not just beauty but history. It didn’t just complement my performance; it became an active participant. Its movement echoed my own, creating a dialogue between the art I was interpreting and the jewelry itself.

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3. Can you describe the emotional connection you felt to Jeanne Hébuterne, Modigliani’s wife, who is featured in 6 of the 7 portraits that inspired the necklace?

Jeanne’s presence in the portraits is haunting. There’s a quiet strength in her expression, a depth that speaks of both passion and sorrow. I felt drawn to that intensity, to the way her love and pain seem intertwined. Young love has a certain rawness, a vulnerability that’s deeply familiar to me. Her story of devotion, and the loss that followed, felt like a reflection of emotions I’ve carried myself. It was as if her spirit reached across time, and through the necklace, I could sense her journey.

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4. The necklace is 140 cm long, commemorating 140 years since Modigliani’s birth. How did this length affect your choreography and the overall visual impact of the performance? 

The length of the necklace added another layer to my performance—it wasn’t just an accessory but an extension of the dance. Its movement had its own rhythm, sometimes trailing behind me, sometimes wrapping around me, almost like a partner. The necklace represented more than just a physical object; it symbolized Jeanne’s love, the weight of her emotions, and the freedom she sought. It felt like she was present with me, influencing the way the necklace moved, turning it into something alive and full of meaning.

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5. As an artist yourself, what aspects of our 3D-printed, handcrafted jewelry resonate with you the most? 

I’m drawn to the clean, contemporary lines of the design. It’s minimal but still carries a quiet elegance, a statement without being overbearing. There’s a subtle harmony between the modern craftsmanship and the deeper artistic inspiration behind the piece. Every time someone asked about it, I felt a sense of pride in sharing the story of its creation, knowing that it carried more than just aesthetic value—it held a connection to art and history.

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6. Lastly, how do you think collaborations between dancers and jewelry designers can push the boundaries of both art forms?  

Collaboration is essential to keeping art fresh and alive. Dance is an ancient art form, yet by working with creators from other disciplines, like jewelry designers, we breathe new life into both forms. Jewelry, like dance, speaks through movement and emotion, and when these worlds merge, they create something that transcends the boundaries of each individual art. These partnerships open up new perspectives, offering both artists and audiences a richer, more dynamic experience.