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Ruinart unveils artist behind its Carte Blanche 2022
Maison Ruinart has announced contemporary Danish artist Jeppe Hein as the artists behind its Carte Blanche 2022 – the programme that sees contemporary artists immerse themselves in the Champagne House’s values, vineyards and cellars, and interpret that into their own artistic vision.
The programme is designed to help promote art as a way to understand the world around us, connect with each other and heighten our awareness, Ruinart said.
Hein, who is best known for his experiential artworks that invite viewers to participate and interact with the space they are confronted with in order “to rethink their apparent simplicity”, has unveiled his art installation Right Here, Right Now.
The artwork portrays Hein’s belief that the process of making and tasting Champagne – from the vineyard to the palate – is a sensory experience, and the work draws on the elements and senses present in the vineyards and cellars at Ruinart. His piece invites the viewers to immerse themselves in these elements, and includes a grape, a piece of wet chalk and the specific smell that lingers above the vines to evoke the humidity and coldness of the chalk caves, the evolution of the vines throughout the year and invite them to contribute to the evolving installation.
Ruinart’s Chef de Cave Frédéric Panaïotis said that Hein’s work “takes a fresh look at the world”.
“I was blown away by his skill as an ‘orchestra conductor’: he plays with the four elements and makes the five senses vibrate with a generosity that draws our attention to the fragile beauty of life,” he said.
The Danish-born artists, who is now based in Berlin, said he wanted to “awaken the senses” by playing with the element of surprise to invite the viewer to “share emotions and reflect on the value of the present moment, both fragile and memorable”, Ruinart said.
Right Here, Right Now will exhibit the installation at the major international art fairs that Maison Ruinart has partnered with, starting with the Venice Biennale in April, and including Frieze London in October.
Previous artists who have worked with the Champagne house include Jaume Plensa, Liu Bolin, Vik Muniz and David Shrigley.