Hennessy celebrates the new edition of its Very Special Limited Edition series with a new design crafted by Scott Campbell, the acclaimed and multi-talented American tattoo artist. This edition is the latest in an ongoing series of artistic collaborations between Hennessy Very Special and internationally renowned urban artists who have previously produced exceptional artwork and impactful designs for collectable items for the Hennessy V.S bottle and include KAWS, Futura, Os Gemêos, Shepard Fairey and Ryan McGinness.
Identifying and supporting avant-garde artists is a Hennessy tradition dating back to its founding. Scott Campbell’s remarkable life story pays homage to Hennessy’s “Never stop. Never settle” motto, based on the theme of pushing personal limits. In recent years he has gained much acclaim from fine art communities worldwide for his work in mediums other than skin, including sculptures, watercolour paintings, and graphite drawings.
This one-of-a-kind Very Special collaboration blends what Scott Campbell calls “tattoo magic” – a ritual that is as much about the experience in the moment as the final result – with the multi-sensorial appreciation of Hennessy. “I’m interested in the magic that the ritual of tattooing holds.” explains Campbell. “It’s one of the only art forms that is truly personal and spontaneous. A good tattoo serves an aesthetic purpose, but more importantly carries emotional power”.
The 2016 Hennessy Very Special Limited Edition adventure started when Scott Campbell travelled to Cognac, France, to get a feeling for the Maison’s history and creative process and gain inspiration for the artwork. When Campbell reinterpreted elements of Hennessy Very Special’s visual branding, he began by perusing the personal journal, notes and drawings of James Hennessy, the Maison’s second-generation visionary and an inveterate traveler, to glean a sense of his person. “I like an artistic process that invites an element of unpredictability an opportunity for mistakes and nature’s chaotic intervention. This is where evolution happens. Cognac has a bit of that because it relies on the soil and the sun and the rain. You can try and be as precise as you want, but ultimately nature is in control, and the end product is better for it.”
“Knowing an artist’s story brings a deeper appreciation for their work. Because no work of art stands independently, it is special because it exists as an artifact of someone’s life.” Scott Campbell observes.
Scott Campbell describes his art for the Very Special Limited Edition as “an exciting point where two very different and very old traditions overlap”. Inspired by James Hennessy’s penmanship, the artist infused the Very Special label with his own sensibility, drawing a design based on a pair of wings, a universal symbol of freedom and travel that also invites the viewer to project personal understanding onto it. “Anything being called art should have the power to evoke curiosity. It should inspire deeper consideration. A good painting is a time capsule. An artist sits in his studio with an inspiration, a feeling. And that emotion leaves an aesthetic residue on canvas for future viewers to take in and relate to.” Decorative elements feature an intricate, highly graphic silver and black motif incorporating Hennessy Very Special’s three stars, an iconic signature of the brand that also happens to be a number that Scott Campbell believes to be auspicious. On the back label, Scott Campbell emblazoned the quote “Love without hesitation” because, he observes, “I believe that if someone can love without hesitation or judgement, they are invincible.”
“Scott Campbell has a signature style that draws on past and present, combining ancient cursive script with a modern eye and execution, which is a perfect visual metaphor for how we at Hennessy honor our own craft,” comments Michael Ellingworth, Brand Manager Hennessy South Africa “His art is always forward-looking. With this new Hennessy Limited Edition bottle design, Scott invites those with a spirit of curiosity to follow along on his adventure. That talent, passion and commitment to craft reflect the same characteristics that Hennessy has pursued for 250 years.”
The Hennessy Very Special Limited Edition will be available on the 1st of August from select fine liquor retailers.
The Hennessy Very Special Limited Edition bottle, approximately R399.95 (750ml), on shelf at select retailers starting from the 1st of August 2016.
For more information about the Hennessy Very Special Limited Edition bottle by Scott Campbell, visit www.hennessy.com
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