Hennessy 250 Tour & Exhibition coming to South Africa
Johannesburg selected as one of four cities in the
world to host Hennessy’s 250th anniversary art exhibition featuring
world-renowned artists including Anton Corbijn, Charles Sandison and Pierrick
Sorin
Hennessy, the world’s most superior and best selling cognac, is
celebrating its 250th anniversary. It’s a remarkable adventure that
has spanned over eight generations and across five continents. The Hennessy 250
Tour was specially curated to celebrate this momentous anniversary: conceived
as an unprecedented, hybrid cultural event, this major travelling exhibition is
dedicated to those who have made Hennessy what it is today.
Curated by Hervé Mikaeloff and featuring internationally renowned
artists, photographers, filmmakers and designers including Charles Sandison,
Anton Corbijn and Xavier Veilhan, the exhibition will touch down in four legendary
locations around the world throughout 2015, including Guangzhou in China, Moscow
in Russia and New York in USA. Circa Gallery in Johannesburg was selected to
represent the African leg of the tour and – in addition to the world-renowned
artists – will also feature the work of South African artist Dineo Bopape. The
Hennessy 250 Tour will be on at Circa Gallery in Johannesburg from 20 – 25
August 2015.
Art that transcends cultures and generations
The Hennessy family were early patrons of the arts and have always been
close to artists themselves – from collaborating with the greatest artist
of time to the icons of contemporary pop culture and designers of the 21st
century.
It’s for this reason that The Hennessy 250 Tour sets
out to give a 360° creative and artistic perspective on the legendary cognac
brand’s past, present and future – mainly by using a trove of archival
materials, portraits, and films that recounts the Hennessy family’s rendezvous
with important moments in history and its global adventure.
In addition, art curator Mikaeloff is no stranger to
the Maison Hennessy, having orchestrated the 2007 “Beauté du Siècle” exhibition
in celebration of the 100th birthday of Kilian Hennessy, a direct descendant
of founder Richard Hennessy.
Says Mikaeloff: “It was a natural progression for me
to curate The Hennessy 250 Tour, considering the relationship I’ve held with
the Maison over the years. I also carefully selected each artist as they, too, capture
and celebrate the spirit of Hennessy.”
Celebrated visual artist Charles Sandison is just one of Mikaeloff’s
specially selected artists. His “Infinitas” installation is inspired by written
archives from the Hennessy Maison, and speaks to the tale of the two families –
Hennessy (the founding family) and Fillioux (the master blender family) – who
created the DNA of the brand and who have been driving it forward for 250
years. Interestingly, the multi-generational legacy of the two families is not only
unique to Hennessy but also to the wider cognac world.
Illustrious photographer and filmmaker Anton Corbijn – known for his
collaboration with music legends such as U2 and Depeche Mode – reveal the real
soul of the Maison with his powerful portrait series: it features, amongst
others, photographs of the winegrower, a cooper, the calligrapher and an agent
for Hennessy in Africa. Corbijn succeeds in powerfully and masterfully
capturing the personality and energy of those who have driven the DNA of
Hennessy forward over the years.
Then there’s also “The Secret of Legacy”, an installation by multimedia
artist Tony Oursler. It’s a symbolic and sensory interpretation of the secrets
shared between the members of the Comité de Dégustation (The Tasting Committee)
– the seven men who meet daily at 11am to taste and select eaux-de-vie (spirit before it’s
blended and matured into cognac) that will ensure the
quality and consistency of the Hennessy family of cognacs is continued in
generations to come.
The panoramic stage is the one highlight South Africans will truly look
forward to. This interactive platform, created by renowned designer Constance
Guisset, speaks to Hennessy’s legacy of skilfully adapting to the different
cultures and continents it has encountered over its 250-year legacy. It’s here where
visitors can catch local artist Dineo Bopape’s video installation that
poetically reflects Hennessy’s 150-year-old relationship with Africa.
Leave you legacy
Another highlight to
The Hennessy 250 Tour is the Hennessy Time Barrel. This creative interactive
installation upholds the Hennessy legacy of transmission from one generation to
the next – just as the Maison preserves its eaux-de-vie for future generations.
Visitors of the
Hennessy 250 Tour Time Barrel installation at Circa Gallery are invited to send
a digital text or video message to the future. This 21st century
time capsule will preserve these messages left in 2015 in a barrel in Hennessy’s
historic cellars in Cognac, and will remain sealed in the Time Barrel until it
will be opened half a century from now, on the occasion of Hennessy’s next
anniversary celebration in 2065.
The Hennessy 250 Tour and Hennessy Time Barrel will be hosted at Circa
Gallery in Johannesburg from 20 – 25 August 2015. The Hennessy Time Barrel will
also make a stop at the Diamond Walk in Sandton City from 27 August to 5 of
September. Those who are outside of Johannesburg can leave their message to
future generations at www.sendingamessagetothefuture.com
For more information, please visit www.hennessy.com/en-africa and join
the conversation on Facebook (HennessySA) and Instagram (HennessySA). Please
include #MessageToTheFuture #TimeBarrel #Hennessy #Hennessy250 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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