Ruinart x Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin 2 3 Since its beginnings in 1729 in Reims, Ruinart, the world's first established champagne house, has never stopped developing and promoting its own unique art of living, echoing the Enlightenment period when it was founded. In a time when French philosophy and culture had great influence, the excellence of Maison Ruinart wines shone like a beacon. Very early on, the house decided to use the rare and precious chardonnay grape to produce its cuvées. Maison Ruinart Elegance, purity, know-how and enlightenment were the watchwords for the world's finest champagne house. These qualities were what ensured its success both in France and overseas, and what has nurtured its unwavering commitment to art since then. The bold decision to call upon the Czech artist Alphonse Mucha back in 1896 to create a poster that would make an immense impact at the time fits perfectly with Maison Ruinart's lasting devotion to art through its support for major international art festivals and its annual commissioning of a contemporary artist. In doing so, the house shares its heritage, history and know-how through the original and creative vision of talented artists. Maison Ruinart Ruinart x Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin 4 5 Ruinart - 4, rue des Crayères - Reims Ruinart x Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin 6 7 It all began during the reign of Louis XIV, when transcription systems (Latin, Greek, Arabic, Hebraic, dom Thierry Ruinart, a visionary monk and uncle of the Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic and Hindi) over a period of five founder of the house, became "Master of Art" in 1674 at months. In the words of the artist, it's a way of reminding age of 17, which was rare at the time. Many years later in onlookers that "each alphabet represents one culture." There 1896, André Ruinart commissioned the Czech artist Alphonse are two dates inscribed on the base of the sculpture, 1729 Mucha to create a poster for the and 2016. Like a secret code, house. The Art Nouveau prodigy this associates the creation of made a huge impact with this As well, there is the Maison Ruinart with the creation first "advertisement." Displayed wonderful Bouquet of the work itself. There is also on Morris columns around Paris, de champagne Georgia Russell, who pays tribute and even on the summit of by Maarten Baas, to the Grand Livre of the first Mont Blanc, the work heralded a centre light established champagne house the beginning of a beautiful sculpture for a gala and to the work accomplished Ruinart relationship between Ruinart table, an elaborate by the men in the chalk pits, and the art world. Since then, the meteorite that "crashes creating a grandiose sculpture house has gone on to commission down like thunder." Piet Hein Eek with her scalpel. Or the portraits many other contemporary artists Hubert Le Gall also chose to use by Gideon Rubin, who explores and and designers, giving them free worked with glass, wood, crafting a the figureheads of Ruinart's reign to pay tribute to its cuvées, creating a calendar monumental piece history through its founding its history, its heritage or its of twelve sculptures, midway between fathers. And who could forget the Art crayères: the impressive chalk each representing a sculpture and photographs by Erwin Olaf, who cellars that are listed as a Unesco a month of the an architectural was particularly struck by the World Heritage Site. "Art is in year symbolised work, then a box depth and enormity of the chalk the house's very nature." We by a vine stock. for the house's cellars? The artist took an interest are continuing our commitment Rosé designed in the signs, like graffiti, left by to art by supporting major using recycled both humans and nature since the contemporary art fairs, and wood inspired Middle Ages, at the time when giving carte blanche to an artist from a champagne the crayères were first listed as a each year," explains Frédéric shipping container Unesco World Heritage Site. And Dufour, President of Maison dating back to 1769. finally, Ruinart's relationship Ruinart. The house has lent its with art has led it to the new support to thirty or so art events, and fascinating images by including: Art Basel (Basel, Miami & Hong-Kong), Frieze Liu Bolin that were created during a residence in August 2017. (New-York & London), Kyotographie, Fiac, Paris Photo and The extraordinary expertise and devotion of our champagne many others. As part of this support, Jaume Plensa was house is showcased in the images of the artist camouflaged Founded in 1729, Ruinart is the first established commissioned to create an impressive sculpture depicting against each background. All of these unique and original champagne house, and has always fortered a special the silhouette of a man in meditation. The Spanish artist projects with renowned artists underscore and perpetuate relationship with the art world. built and assembled steel letters from eight phonetic Ruinart's commitment to the world of contemporary art. Ruinart and Art Ruinart x Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin 8 9 Born in Binzhou, 1973 Shandong province, south east of Beijing. Graduates from the Shandong 1995 10 dates in the life of Liu Bolin Academy of Fine Arts. (sculpture) First solo show in Beijing. 1998 Joins the Central Academy 1999 2005 Creates the first photograph in the of Fine Arts in Beijing. Hiding in the City series to express Dates his feelings of powerlessness during the demolition of houses in the suburbs Graduates from the Central 2001 of Beijing during the renovation Academy of Fine Arts. of the capital for the 2008 Olympic Games. in the (master) 2007 He attends (group exhibition) life the Rencontres d’Arles. 2012 He takes part in the Moscow Biennale of Photography and the Images Vevey festival. 2014 His Fist 2014 sculpture is displayed outside the Grand Palais for the Paris Art Fair, which celebrated China. 2017 Retrospective at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, and an exhibition 1973 - 1995 - 1998 - 1999 - 2001 - 2005 - 2007 - 2012 - 2014 - 2017 of his new works in his Paris-Beijing gallery in the French capital. Dates in the life Ruinart x Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin 10 11 It's hard to define an artist like Liu Bolin given his experience and the variation of his work. Born in 1973 in Binzhou, Shandong province south-east of Beijing, he was the youngest of many children and the only About Liu Bolin one to study art, which his father believed was a worthless pursuit. He belongs to the generation of artists whose creations are intertwined with a changing China. Ruinart x Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin 12 13 Revelation through camouflage As a student at the University of Shandong, he makes the audience believe that there is nothing there, specialised in sculpture and then went on to teach when in fact there is something or someone", explains drawing between 1995 and 2005. It was then that Philippe Dagen in the foreword to the monograph he came into contact with the Beijing East Village Liu Bolin, published by La Martinière. art scene where performance artists thrived. In 2005, Until 2008, he was influenced by political and social he became aware of the housing evictions and the issues, and included a series of works in front of walls demolitions of traditional houses in the suburbs of displaying propaganda slogans from the Chinese Shanghai, to make way for a more modern capital city Communist Party. From 2009, his images began for the 2008 Olympic Games. Feeling powerless to help portraying important criticisms of our consumer- those affected by the destruction, he staged a silent focused society. More recently still, his attention has protest which became the first photograph in the series been focused on financial power, ecology, and the entitled Hiding in the City. On this image, which is use of resources. "He composes images that initially a combination of sculpture, painting and photography attract, then surprise and worry, and end up remaining as much as performance, Liu Bolin literally vanishes in etched on his audience's memories." He has created a front of the houses that are slated for destruction, his unique art form which has a rarely seen impact and body and clothes covered in garments that blend into is perfectly aligned with the world we are living in the background. His art of camouflage is particularly right now", explains Philippe Dagen. We are now subtle and only hints at the artist's presence. "A still seeing more and more new protagonists appear in his life in trompe-l’oeil suggests that there is something compositions, which brings a collective dimension that real there, when in fact there is nothing." Camouflage appeals directly to the viewer. About Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin 14 15 Liu Bolin Hiding in Italy n°12, Teatro La Scala, 2010 © Liu Bolin / Courtesy Galerie Paris-Beijing Liu Bolin Hiding in the City n°16, Civilian and Policeman, 2006 © Liu Bolin / Courtesy Galerie Paris-Beijing Liu Bolin Hiding in the City n°36, Unify the Thought to promote Education more, 2007 © Liu Bolin / Courtesy Galerie Paris-Beijing Liu Bolin Hiding in the city n°2, Suojia Villa (highlights), 2005 © Liu Bolin / Courtesy Galerie Paris-Beijing About Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin 16 17 Liu Bolin Hide in the City - Paris, Bookshelf, 2011 © Liu Bolin / Courtesy Galerie Paris-Beijing Liu Bolin Hiding in the City n°83, Supermarket, 2009 © Liu Bolin / Courtesy Galerie Paris-Beijing Liu Bolin Hiding in the City n°109, Info Wall, 2013 © Liu Bolin / Courtesy Galerie Paris-Beijing About Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin Ruinart x Liu Bolin 20 21 What is your 1 / principal inspiration? In my work, I’m always concerned by the link between the object created by people with people.