John Armleder – L’Incanto – Ornellaia 2012 – Vendemmia d’Artista

John Armleder has created a series of individual wine label designs and been commissioned to create a site-specific artwork for the Ornellaia estate at Bolghieri on the Tuscan coast in Italy to interpret L’Incanto – The Enchantment, for the 2015 Vendemmia d’Artista art project. The seventh in an annual programme of commissions merging art and oenology. The commission will create 111 designed and signed bottle labels from the 2012 vintage, consisting of 100 3-litre double-magnums, 10 6-litre Imperials, and a unique 9-litre Salmanazar. The artist has created a special  label for an individual 750-ml bottle of Ornellaia to be included in every 6-bottle wood case.

Armleder has encased the neck of the Salmanazar bottle with a shape suggesting a magician’s cape or cascade of water with a gold and transparent material giving the impression of mystery and alchemy – of something to discover; while a bright red motif suggests a splash of ink or sealing wax on for the 750-ml label.

“When I tasted Ornellaia 2012 for the first time, I was immediately transported to a world of dreams. It was unexpected and surprising; a moment that can never be repeated. The image represents the surprise and pleasure I felt, and I want people to experience that feeling for themselves. When they discover the label for the first time that unique experience will become their own.” John Armleder

Sotheby’s will preside over an auction, on April 23^rd 2015, of 9 lots of L’Incanto during a Gala Dinner and benefit event at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, which will receive the proceeds.

A summary of the Vendemmia d’Artista editions, which have raised €1,000,000 to benefit art organisations

6. Edition: Rodney Graham – L’Infinito
Ornellaia 2011 Vendemmia D’artista
Donation to the AGO Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto

5. Edition: Michelangelo Pistoletto  – La Celebrazione (25th anniversary)
Ornellaia 2010 Vendemmia D’artista
Donation to the Royal Opera House Foundation, London

4.Edition: Zhang Huan – L’Equilibrio
Ornellaia 2009 Vendemmia D’artista
Donation to the H2 Foundation for Arts and Education, Luo Zhongli, Hong Kong

3. Edition: Rebecca Horn – L’Energia
Ornellaia 2008 Vendemmia D’artista
Donation to Verein der Freunde der Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin

2. Edition: Ghada Amer and Reza Farkhondeh – L’Armonia
Ornellaia 2007 Vendemmia D’artista
Donation to Whitney Museum, New York

1. Edition: Luigi Ontani – L’Esuberanza
Ornellaia 2006 Vendemmia D’artista
Donation to Poldi Pezzoli Museum, Milan

JOHN ARMLEDER, born in 1948, lives between Geneva and New York; he is recognised as one of Switzerland’s most outstanding and influential artists of his generation. With his unique personal style, he has created over the years a universe of eclectic pieces that range through pictorial, sculpture, and performance art. Fundamental to his artistic vision is his analysis of the context in which a particular piece will be exhibited, which thus assumes a central role in the creative process.

Art Curators for Ornellaia Vendemmia d’Artista project are Bartolomeo Pietromarchi and Maria Alicata.

http://www.ornellaia.com/#/vendemmia

https://aajpress.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/rodney-graham-linfinito-vendemmia-dartista-ornellaia-2011/

https://aajpress.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/michelangelo-pistoletto-vendemmia-dartista-la-celebrazione-ornellaia-2010/

https://aajpress.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/rebecca-horn-lenergia-vendemmia-dartista/

https://aajpress.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/zhang-huan-lequilibrio-questioning-confucius-ornellaia-vendemmia-dartista-2012/