Ruinart x Vik Muniz: an artist’s vision of the champagne house celebrates shared roots between man and nature
Wines & Spirits
·
© Ruinart / Vik Muniz
Ruinart has long nurtured inspiring relationships with the world of art. Each year for the past ten years the Maison has invited a contemporary artist to share a personal take on the famous champagne house. This year Ruinart gave carte blanche to Brazilian artist Vik Muniz, who created “Shared Roots”, a series of works inspired by the close relationship between man and nature.
Ruinart has enjoyed close ties with the art world ever since its founding in 1729. In 1896, Alphonse Mucha, a leading figure in the Art Nouveau movement, created the Maison’s first advertising poster, a bold, trendsetting initiative for the era. More than a century later Ruinart continues to showcase contemporary artists. Hubert Le Gall, Erwin Olaf, Liu Bolin and others have created singular works in homage to Ruinart and its cuvées, history, heritage and unique chalk cellars.
This year Brazilian artist Vik Muniz has been given carte blanche to draw inspiration from the universe of Ruinart. Known for challenging the collective cultural memory in works that meld sculpture, photography, video and a variety of materials, the artist immersed himself in the vineyards during a residency in Reims, engaging with all that makes Ruinart unique. This immersion spawned “Share Roots” a series of works that magnify the relationship between man and nature.
The works are made mainly from natural elements such as black wood and charcoal, or grapevine leaves and other plants from the Sillery vineyard on Montagne de Reims. One of the creations depicts the hands of Frédéric Panaïotis, Ruinart Cellar Master, a way of personifying the relationship between humans and the source of their savoir-faire, nature.
Presented on March 14 at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, these works will be exhibited for a month on the fencing around the building. Building on this latest artistic collaboration, Ruinart also invited Vik Muniz to be part of its “Food For Art” program, a fusion of gastronomy and art through a creative meeting between the artist and a chef.
In addition, Vik Muniz designed a special edition for the box of the Ruinart Blanc de Blancs jeroboam (three liters), produced in a limited edition of 30 bottles.
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for health. Please drink responsibly.