Arik Levy has given his vision of the 6-liter Methuselah in a very limited edition, a work of art in itself. Inspired by Arik Levy’s famous Rock sculptures, this Methuselah X.O Hennessy is a tribute to the excellence of a rare cognac, the culmination of a five-year collaboration between the renowned artist and the world’s leading cognac brand. Designed to integrate imperfect geometry with perfect harmony, the object that houses the Methuselah X.O. is entirely hand-crafted from individual pieces of wood, covered with embossed Barenia leather. The
metal lock draws its inspiration from hydronautical technology.
Each box, meticulously assembled element by element, represents a perfect visual metaphor for the harmonious blend of a hundred eaux-de-vie, as well as an exceptional piece crafted with subtlety and complexity. It is designed to appear differently depending on the angle from which it is viewed. Each piece is unique.
Arik Levy’s Methuselah X.O is the result of the Israeli artist’s vision of Hennessy. Their first encounter dates back to 2007, when Arik Levy collaborated with Hennessy’s creative team on the X.O. bottle. Since then, their relationship has continued to develop naturally through a series of limited edition projects.
It quickly became clear that Arik Levy and Hennessy work to the same exacting standards, with the same ongoing quest for excellence. Like great cognac, great art requires time, respect, dedication and depth.
Hennessy, itself an ambassador for French art and the art of living, recognized its own values in the artist-designer’s approach and invited him to express this synergy in a free artistic creation for Methuselah X.O. Arik Levy has forged a place for himself on the international art scene with works that seem both to spring from nature and to belong to another world. Indoors, his Rock sculptures resemble minerals or massive craters. Outdoors, they seem to come from a distant galaxy. While firmly anchored in time and space, Arik Levy’s works appear to be constantly evolving before our eyes. Thanks to this virtuosity, they can be found in the world’s leading contemporary art collections, including those of
MoMA and MAD in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Milan Triennale, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Seoul Art Centre.
When I first met Hennessy,” says Arik Levy, “it was emotional. I felt there was an instant connection, as if by intuition I knew them. I understood Hennessy, their history, what they do, and the uniqueness of X.O. It was like osmosis. What we do is perfectly complementary: Hennessy draws on nature to produce something beautiful and sublime, strongly linked to my artistic approach.”
By combining sculpture and Hennessy’s expertise, X.O Methuselah resonates with its harmony of color, texture and form. I wanted to go beyond the visible, into something felt,” continues Levy. There’s so much beauty in this process! It’s developed in a very scientific way, with 3-D imaging. At the same time, the work is totally prehistoric, since the elements have to be patiently carved and then assembled. The final piece doesn’t just envelop the decanter, it houses it. It creates an interior architecture, an emotional nuance that is
at the heart of my work.”
Powerful and tactile, Arik Levy’s Methuselah X.O delights the eye and captures the imagination. There are no restrictions: everyone is free to interpret it as they wish.
This ability to resonate differently for everyone is what anchors Arik Levy’s Methuselah
X.O in our time and at the same time makes it eternal.Arik Levy’s Methuselah X.O expresses the nobility of the original “eXtra-Old” cognac created by Maurice Hennessy. Its powerful aromas of oak, old leather and black pepper, balanced by the softer notes of clove, cinnamon and vanilla, have made the “Original X.O” the emblem of Hennessy since 1870.
Each numbered edition of Methuselah X.O comes with a certificate of authenticity and a one-page monograph on Arik Levy published by Hennessy. The metal plate can be monogrammed or personalized on request.
Arik Levy’s Methuselah X.O was officially unveiled to the public on March 15, 2012 at TEFAF, the international art fair in Maastricht, as the centerpiece of Arik Levy’s Rock Collection exhibition.
Arik Levy’s Methuselah X.O also made an exclusive appearance at the Beijing Art Fair in April and has been exhibited in a selection of galleries worldwide, including PriveeKollektie (Netherlands, May), Galerie JMG (Paris, June), Galerie Alon Segev (Tel Aviv, September).
Cette publication est également disponible en : Français (French)
