For the tenth year, Maison Hennessy is proud to announce the2020 limited edition of Hennessy Very Special, created by artist Faith XLVII and available in France from September.
In 2020, the limited edition Hennessy Very Special by Faith XLVII completes the fine collection of creations and artists who have been working hand in hand with the House for several years.
As artist of the 10th edition, Faith XLVII is the first female voice to join the Hennessy Very Special limited edition series, an artistic line-up that includes internationally renowned talents such as Felipe Pantone, Vhils, JonOne, Shepard Fairey, Os Gemeos, Futura and Kaws.
ujFaith XVLII: from nature to creation
At the root of Faith XLVII’s artistic journey, from graffiti and murals to her studio work, is the desire to encourage reconciliation with nature and awareness of its interconnected nature. “We are witnessing a profound change in perspective towards the protection of nature, the earth, animals and the environment,” explains the artist. A self-taught talent, Faith XLVII developed her artistic signature independently, forging her vision in her native South Africa from an early age. Very early on, she became one of the few artists to stand out in the largely male-dominated graffiti scene. After first making a name for herself under the pseudonym Faith47, this evolved into Faith XLVII: “At the time, there weren’t many women in this field. I felt the need to shake up the status quo in this essentially male environment”, she recalls. In her work, she has notably approached the complex social dynamics of her country from a more feminine perspective, most notably in a series of works around the Freedom Charter. In 2017, Faith XLVII left Cape Town for Los Angeles, where she continued to develop and evolve her artistic approach. Today, she is a leading artist on the international scene, defining herself as a “Citizen of the World”, a member of a broad community of “engaged” artists. Through her site-specific works in urban spaces, she seeks to connect with local communities: her monumental black-and-white murals often depict, in intertwined forms, animals and mystical creatures, symbolisms like ancient maps, hands. A multidisciplinary artist, her visual language is expressed through salvaged objects, collages, paintings, video installations and prints. Faith XLVII addresses universal issues through the prism of her identity and femininity. “My roots run deep,” she explains. “What I discover when I create is the cumulative result of a whole life experience”. For her, this work with Maison Hennessy on the occasion of the 10th Hennessy Very Special limited edition marks a new creative cycle. It “resonates with things I think about all the time: the cycles of nature, the phases of the moon, the succession of seasons and the cyclical nature of time”.
Hennessy Very Special 2020: Putting it all together
The artistic reinterpretation of Faith XLVII for this new limited edition is the fruit of an encounter. For Faith XLVII, his artistic approach was a natural fit with that of the House of Hennessy. On his first visit to Château de Bagnolet, the historic heart of the House in Cognac, one of the first things the artist noticed was the time spent blending cognacs. In his eyes, the complex process of selecting eaux-de-vie – which draws on centuries of know-how – is a return to basics that allows us to take time and appreciate its importance. “Maison Hennessy’s roots lie in simple principles that have been the same since its history began over 250 years ago,” observes the artist. The link between the world of Maison Hennessy and his own was immediately obvious. “In my work, I’m very attentive to raw materials and how I can use them to give shape to my works. This same creativity can also be found in the way Maison Hennessy works. In a way, what we have in common is that we take basic elements and create something new. My approach is similar to that of the Master Assembler: we both select primary elements that we use over time to create something remarkable.” For this bottle, Faith XLVII created a work representing Hennessy through the elements, the earth and the cycles of nature. With the sun and weather at its center, its intricate details pay homage to nature through references to the moon, rain, clouds and vines, enhanced with golden vine leaves. The palette, inspired by the colors of nature, combines golden elements with “earthy tones”, while lettering pays homage to the chalk inscriptions on the centuries-old barrels in the Chai du Fondateur in Cognac.
The limited edition 2020 Hennessy V.S by Faith XLVII will be available from September 1st, at the Hennessy boutique in Cognac and at partner wine shops, at the recommended retail price of 37€.
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