One of the world’s leading contemporary artists, Sir Anish Kapoor is renowned for his striking sculptures which have become an integral part of the fabric of the cities they are placed in, from Chicago (‘The Bean’) to the famous red ArcelorMittal Orbit – the UK’s largest sculpture – in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. One of his most vivid memories from his childhood in India is watching his father enjoying Rémy Martin cognac. That is why he has partnered with the French firm on a new limited-edition decanter.
Kapoor chooses the brands he collaborates with very carefully, but this one held such personal significance that it felt like a natural and intriguing proposition. ‘There was a sense from the beginning of this project that it refers to my history,’ he says.
He is known for his love of polished surfaces, rich colours and organic, abstract forms; so how would he translate that unique visual language and way of seeing the world into a sculptural, functional, human-scale piece that could carry his boyhood memories, while simultaneously honouring the history of the 300-year-old house?
In the end, he created two pieces: a limited-edition Rémy Martin XO decanter and an exclusive artwork, titled Mirroring Infinite Possibilities, both of which explore colour, form and space in uniquely sensorial ways. The works were unveiled at an immersive event at the ICA in London; the decanter sitting on a table surrounded by a locally-sourced feast curated by Bistrotheque, each ingredient chosen to complement the flavours in the cognac, while behind, the gleaming curved surface of the artwork glowed quietly like a setting sun.
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Rémy Martin XO x Anish Kapoor limited edition cognac, £195, exclusively at Selfridges, selfridges.com, remymartin.com/en-uk
