New York, September 27, 2018
September 2018 – With a shared desire to infuse life with contemporary creation, Maison Perrier-Jouët and Design Miami/ joined forces seven years ago to give visibility to up-and-coming artists and designers on an international platform. As part of this partnership, Maison Perrier-Jouët commissions creative talents for their capacity to express the cultural heritage of the Maison through the prism of the 21st century, as well as their own unique identity.
British designer Bethan Laura Wood’s extravagant vision of the world and nature, as well as her unique way of using colour to convey meaning, allow her to seamlessly translate the Art of the Wild: the universe as seen by Maison Perrier-Jouët to re-enchant life through the presence of nature that is magnetic, vivid and unbridled. Creative liberty and unconventional observations of nature form the roots of Maison Perrier-Jouët’s history and are also characteristic of the Art Nouveau movement which is closely linked to the Maison. Wood’s work is the perfect reflection of this free spirit.
Blurring the boundaries between art and design, Wood strives towards creating pieces that encourage interaction both physically and intellectually, so as to stimulate a dialogue between user and object. To inform her aesthetic, Wood takes influence from her travels which feed back into her work through enriched colour palettes, atypical forms and precisely selected materials. These elements allow her to elevate the mundane into the extraordinary, a practice in which Wood is well-versed.
‘Maison Perrier-Jouët’s connection to Art Nouveau really resonated with me, especially the way it breathed beauty into the world in the context of the industrial revolution. This moved me to choose industrial materials for this collaboration and work them in an artisanal way to reveal their beauty when treated with respect’, explains Wood.
She adds: ‘Nature has always been an important factor in my work. Observing the ‘HyperNature’ found in the crossover between the man-made and nature is something that inspires me a lot and was something I felt would be interesting to explore within the language and heritage of Maison Perrier-Jouët. With this creation, I hope to have captured the joy, vibrancy and unexpected intensity that I found in the Art of the Wild. I have also tried to enhance the fantasy element to highlight the luxurious, momentous occasions on which we drink champagne.’
Bethan Laura Wood’s largest single sculpture to date, this collaboration with Maison Perrier-Jouët is a fantastical, immersive experience that will add a touch of enchantment to Design Miami/ from 5th December 2018, at the Collector Lounge.
About Perrier-Jouët
Founded in 1811 in Epernay, Maison Perrier-Jouët is one of France’s most historic champagne houses, but also one of its most distinctive, renowned for its floral and intricate champagnes which reveal the true essence of the Chardonnay grape and an enduring tradition of savoir-faire – an unparalleled expertise of only seven Cellar Masters since its foundation. A free spirit house, Perrier-Jouët has been profoundly influenced by its founders’ love of nature and art – twin inspirations which allow it to create exceptional experiences and moments of wonder that enhance everyday life. Since its 1902 collaboration with Art Nouveau pioneer Emile Gallé, creator of the anemone design for its Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque prestige cuvée, Perrier-Jouët has commissioned work from established and emerging artists including Daniel Arsham, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Miguel Chevalier, Makoto Azuma, Tord Boontje, Studio Glithero and Simon Heijdens, and more recently Vik Muniz, mischer’traxler, Ritsue Mishima, Andrew Kudless and Luftwerk.
