Rémy Martin has unveiled a collaboration with internationally renowned contemporary artist Anish Kapoor: a limited-edition Rémy Martin XO Cognac decanter and an exclusive artwork.
Both were showcased at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, at an event in May attended by Kapoor and Rémy Martin CEO Jean-Philippe Hecquet.
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| Rémy Martin XO x Anish Kapoor Limited Edition |
The new decanter and artwork represent a distinctive visionary and sensorial exploration of colour, form and space, reflecting Kapoor's signature style.
The proposition of an artistic collaboration around the Rémy Martin XO decanter immediately struck a personal chord with Kapoor. “There was a sense from the beginning of this project with Rémy Martin that it refers to my history. My father used to drink it when I was a boy in India, and I carried that with me.”
“Rémy Martin XO perfectly embodies the heritage and savoir-faire of the maison,” noted Hecquet. “It is the ultimate expression of our terroir, offering an exceptionally smooth, full-bodied blend of eaux-de-vie from Grande and Petite Champagne that gradually releases a wealth of harmonious aromas. Its opulent radiance paired with the timeless design of its magnificent decanter has inspired Anish Kapoor, whose creation now becomes a part of our brand’s enduring legacy.”
The travel retail roll-out is being supported by a series of high-profile, immersive activations that invite travellers to embark on a sensory journey into the universe of Rémy Martin XO, reimagined through the creativity of one of the world’s greatest living sculptors.
The activations began in May at West Kowloon High Speed Rail Link station, in partnership with Avolta, and in Hong Kong International Airport, in collaboration with China Duty Free Group. Further activations follow this summer, in London Heathrow, Abu Dhabi Zayed International and Paris Charles de Gaulle, among other locations.
 The activation site at West Kowloon High Speed Rail Link station |
Reflecting Kapoor’s artwork – and the new decanter design – the activations feature a three-step Mirroring Infinite Possibilities theme. Through digital gamification, the Reflecting Memories activity invites shoppers to draw on memories associated with Rémy Martin, resulting in a cocktail recipe that is tailored to their recollections.
The Interlocking Lights and Colours glorifier encourages travellers to observe the different shades of Rémy Martin XO eaux-de-vie as it interacts with light from different angles. The third step, Mirroring Infinite Possibilities, provides a concave mirror experience inspired by Kapoor’s iconic concave mirror installation. The journey concludes with tastings and food pairings.
Kapoor has reimagined the Rémy Martin XO decanter as a minimalist curve with a concave centre in glowing amber tones. Featuring a new copper bottle neck and stopper, this collectible limited-edition decanter “unlocks an alternative Rémy Martin universe, like a magnetic portal to another world”, Rémy Martin said.
Kapoor's artwork for Rémy Martin sits within his body of painted mirror works. The concave surface of the vast mirror immerses viewers in its “dense yet ethereal” tones inspired by all the shades of Rémy Martin XO eaux-de-vie.
Kapoor said: “I began to think about a work that would sit alongside the Rémy Martin bottle. It has this radiant presence, it shows through. The colour is the most direct way of getting into it. I wanted to translate these reflections.”
As you move around the work, the colours change and endless rays of reflections come to light: “I had to search for this colour,” the artist explained, “because it’s a liquid and as the light changes, it changes – and the concave mirror captures its reflective qualities."
