In 1729 the world’s first champagne house, Ruinart Champagne, was established by a Benedictine monk named Dom Ruinart. In the same year, Ruinart began the company’s first leger book, Le Grand Livre. Nearly three centuries later, the book is a historical landmark for the company, and serves as inspiration and medium for the brand’s new collaboration with Scottish artist Georgia Russell.
Known for her intricately dismembered books, and Xacto-cut photographs, it is only fitting that Russell would find inspiration in this storied tome. The artist was also moved by a visit to the brand’s magnificent chalk cellars, where the champagne is left to age. The results of the collaboration are two-fold: a white sculptural case with small, leaf-like cutouts for Ruinart’s Blanc de Blancs champagne, and an art piece with a mane-like mass of stripped paper that explodes behind two intact pages from a copy of the Grand Livre.
Photo provided by Ruinart Champagne
The collaboration is one of many the brand has undertaken since its founding, which have included commissions by Maarten Baas, Patricia Urquiola, and most recently Piet Hein Eek. Russell’s sculpture has been presented at Art Basel Hong Kong and Basel, and will be shown at the Miami Beach, fair as well. In addition, her limited edition bottle ornaments will be on display and available for purchase.
