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Perrier-Jouët Celebrates Its 200th Anniversary

Champagne House Perrier-Jouët celebrated its bicentenary with the unveiling of Bi-Centenaire—the very first Living Legacy champagne designed to be passed on to future generations.

An exclusive guest list gathered for the unveiling of a new kind of Champagne experience by the house renowned globally for its Belle Époque Cuvée. Guests were also treated to the unveiling of a new work of art commissioned from American artist Daniel Arsham, designed to embody the spirit of Bi-Centenaire—a true invitation to celebrate life.

Perrier-Jouët Bi-Centenaire tells the unexpected tale of a great vintage wine with two stories. The first takes place today: a champagne-lover treats himself to a magnum of Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 1998. Many years later, a descendant in turn enjoys a magnum of Belle Epoque 1998, passed down through the generations, preciously stored in a private cellar in Perrier-Jouët for up to 100 years.

Just 200 guests from 10 countries attended the private launch, set in the stunning glass courtyard of the iconic Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, symbolizing Perrier-Jouët’s passionate family spirit for passing on artisanal and artistic craftsmanship. Guests enjoyed a unique exhibition of photographic portraits by legendary Studio Harcourt, showcasing iconic examples of family legacy including French movie stars Alain Delon and daughter Anouchka, American model and actress Jerry Hall and daughter Georgia May Jagger, Catherine Deneuve and son Christian Vadim, the world’s oldest Circus dynasty Patriarch Sampion Bouglione and son Francesco, France’s oldest jeweller Olivier Mellerio and daughter Emilie, and more.

The evening concluded with the unveiling of Daniel Arsham’s unique diptych sculpture, revealing glimpses of the bottles through an original and distinctive architecture, designed to express the philosophy of this champagne. “It was this spirit of Perrier-Jouët continuity that I wanted to illustrate by creating a diptych that combined both the essence of Perrier-Jouët and my universe. My initial inspiration came from Perrier-Jouët’s vines and its cellars, the detail of Emile Gallé’s anemone flower,” commented Daniel Arsham.

Perrier-Jouët Bi-Centenaire is available in very limited quantities (100 pieces only) at the Champagne House’s Boutique in Epernay and by appointment only including a privileged hospitality experience. It is also available through the exclusive Pernod Ricard network for an average RSP of 10,000 euros.

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Jill Platner's Sculpture Garden

On May 4th, Manhattan-based jewelry designer and artist, Jill Platner, will debut her large-scale copper, bronze and steel sculptures at a pop-up gallery next to her famed store on 113 Crosby St. Eleven works ranging in size from 4 feet to over 10 feet tall will be shown throughout the month of May and will be available for sale.

Though this is the first time Platner has collectively shown her sculptures, they were originally conceptualized years ago when she first began making jewelry; which she has always considered to be wearable art. With this group of work she was finally able to explore the mechanics of balance and weight on a much larger scale. Movement, gravity and connectivity are essential elements of her nature-inspired designs–allowing for the possibility of interactivity with the viewer, an integral component to her bold installation.

Platner’s “sculpture forest” is composed of hanging mobiles and standing pieces that will fill the gallery space. As Platner notes, “The work is meant to be touched and moved. I love the interaction that one can have with a sculptural piece”.

A FANTASY IN LIFE

NAM are a collective of creative individuals encompassing photographers and graphic designers to make-up artists and stylists. There are "about" 10 members and their reluctance to define an exact quantity of collaborators speaks volumes to their philosophy and overall aesthetic.

Beginning this Friday (2/25) A Fantasy In Life opens at Public/Image.3D a multi-purpose event space in Shibuya. For the first time ever a number of Nam's previous works will be on display, as well as new work created specifically for this show.

The group was founded in 2006 by graphic designer Takayuki Nakazawa and photographer Hiroshi Manaka. Nakazawa talks about the groups beginnings in an interview here. He had enlisted Manaka to take a portrait of himself but, unsatisfied with the results of a conventional portrait, the two decided to take clippings from an old movie poster and collage it onto the face.  Looking at this work Nakazawa recalled Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali's 16-minute dreamlike film Un Chien Andalou. Nakazawa confided in Manaka and the two, inspired by what the human psyche could create, began NAM. The naming is simply derived from the initials of the two founders. It's a nice story but it's also crucial in understanding the body of work that ensued over the next 4 years.

Perhaps the most striking characteristic of their work is the visual effects, or lack thereof; they employ none. Each scene is meticulously constructed using lots of strings, conventional photography and other old-school (and low-budget) techniques. It's hard to not notice the dream-like imagery that walks a thin line between fantasy and nonsensical. I personally find their work both mesmerizing as well as little scary. I find myself staring at their work, feeling like a helpless child who is trapped in some odd dream, unable to discern reality from fiction.

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NAM Exhibition  | A FANTASY IN LIFE

Public/Image.3D (GMAP)

2011.2.25 – 3.13 (closed Mondays)

12:00 – 19:00 (reception on 2.25 opens at 19:00)

BEAUTY CULTURE

BEAUTY CULTURE, a photographic exploration of how feminine beauty is defined, challenged and revered in modern society will open at The Annenberg Space for Photography on May 21, 2011 and runs through November 27, 2011. Featuring works from iconic photographers such as Albert Watson, Bert Stern, Herb Ritts, Man Ray, Jean-Paul Goude, Guy Bourdin, Horst, Melvin Sokolsky, Matthew Rolston, Philippe Halsman, Lauren Greenfield and Tyen, BEAUTY CULTURE encourages a social dialogue about the allure and mystique of the pursuit of female beauty, as well as the cult-like glorification and multi-billion dollar industries that surround it. Daring, provocative and at times controversial, the exhibition presents diverse viewpoints on beauty as it has evolved through the 20th and 21st centuries. The exhibition compellingly illustrates the power of the still image in shaping cultural ideals and expectations of feminine beauty – and photography's undeniable influence on conceptions of the Self.


"As much as beauty can astonish and inspire, it can also corrupt and subvert, rendering all else - and even itself - broken and obsolete. The great contemporary photographers do so much more than chronicle and celebrate what is beautiful in our time.  They dig beneath it, they confront our compulsion with it, and they turn art's mirror on ourselves as well.  I can't think of a more important conversation for the Annenberg Space to have," says Wallis Annenberg, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of the Annenberg Foundation.
Other noted photographers and visual artists in the exhibit include: Andres Serrano, Carrie Mae Weems, Chuck Close, David LaChapelle, Ellen von Unwerth, Erwin Blumenfeld, Gilles Bensimon, Greg Gorman, Leonard Nimoy, Lillian Bassman, Lynn Johnson, Martin Schoeller, Mary Ellen Mark, Michel Comte, Nino Munoz, Norman Jean Roy, ORLAN, Patrick Demarchelier, Paul Lange, Robert Maxwell, Terry Richardson and William Claxton. 


Showcasing images of performers, professional models and pop-culture icons, BEAUTY CULTURE features portrait and editorial images of Alek Wek, Angelina Jolie, Anja Rubik, Beverly Johnson, Bo Derek, Carmen Dell'Orefice, Cheryl Tiegs, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Crystal Renn, Du Juan, Elizabeth Taylor, Gisele Bundchen, Grace Jones, Helena Christensen, Hilary Swank, Iman, Jean Shrimpton, Kate Moss, Kristen McMenamy, Lakshmi Menon, Linda Evangelista, Madonna, Marilyn Monroe, Megan Fox, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nadja Auermann, Nancy Kwan, Naomi Campbell, Sophia Loren, Stephanie Seymour, Tatjana Patitz and Venus Williams.

Through the following themes, BEAUTY CULTURE will examine both traditional and unconventional definitions of beauty:

• What Size Is Beauty?
• What Color Is Beauty?
• Beauty, Inc.:  The $300 Billion Cosmetics Industry
• Beauty for Money:  The Professional Model
• Beauty from Cradle to Grave
• Dreams on Paper:  The Pin-Up Girl
• Extreme Beauty
• Pageant Culture
• Reaction and Revolution
• The Hollywood Glamour Machine:  Vamps, Vixens and Bombshells
• The Marilyn Syndrome
• Androgyny

In addition to over 170 photographs featured in the print gallery, BEAUTY CULTURE will showcase nearly 500 digital images in vivid detail on high-resolution screens in our Digital Gallery. The exhibition is accompanied by a short documentary film directed by acclaimed photographer and award-winning documentarian Lauren Greenfield, shown in the Digital Gallery. The digital film expands upon the print exhibit's themes, and features interviews with well-known photographers, models, historians and beauty experts who will guide visitors on a fascinating photographic exploration of the culture – and cult – of beauty.


The IRIS Nights lecture series will continue BEAUTY CULTURE's dialogue and examination of the impact of photography on the image of women.  Cutting-edge photographers, filmmakers and stylists will discuss their work and stories from their creative quests to project, capture, reshape or challenge the prevailing vision of feminine ideals.


Manon Slome- critic, independent curator and founder of No Longer Empty- is the exhibition consultant. The curatorial advisor for this exhibit is Kohle Yohannan, author and cultural historian.

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