Ruinart's Masterpiece Series Brings A New Form Of Art To Its Champagne
Visitors to Ruinart's lounge at Art Basel last week were treated to much more than some of the world's best champagne. Besides serving up the bubbles, the historic champagne house — and France's oldest — brought its own artistic contributions to the fair in the form of an astounding sculptural piece by artist Georgia Russell.
As the most recent artist to work with Ruinart on its 'Masterpiece' series, a collaborative initiative that has included creative talents such Gideon Rubin, Rubén Fuentes and Piet Hein Eek, Russell is best known for her intricately-detailed paper objects which she cuts and shapes from old books and manuscripts. For her own masterpiece, Russell drew inspiration from the house's historic Grand Livre — its inaugural ledger book, begun by founder Nicolas Ruinart in 1729. With a replica of the original, Russell cut and carved into the pages of yellowing paper to produce an exquisite textural sculpture that literally explodes from its seams.
Check out the images below, along with an earlier piece that Russell produced for Ruinart this spring, a decorative ornament for the champagne house's flagship Blanc de Blancs wine that takes inspiration from its famous chalk white cellars.
Russell's decorative sheath for Ruinart's Blanc de Blancs champagne was inspired by the artist's visit to the house's famous chalk cellars.[/caption]
Here, Russell holds her nearly-completed 'Masterpiece' for the house, which she single-handledly carved from the replica of Ruinart's 'Grand Livre.'[/caption]
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