Veuve Clicquot: Emotions of the Sun
Veuve Clicquot, creator of the iconic, golden-yellow labeled cuvée La Grande Dame, has collaborated with eight photographers across five continents to express one of the house's core influences – the beauty of the sun.
Featuring 40 prints, the exhibition debuted at Milan Design Week in April. Below are a selection of some of the collection's most striking pieces from its participants.
The sun that binds us
Photographer Nanna Heitmann expresses the rays of the sun with a length of yellow fabric, flowing in unison with the vast, undulating expanse of desert and symbolizing the synchronicity between people and the sun.
"The sun is the source of light and life for our planet. It inspires awe and wonder, and reminds us of the vastness and beauty of the universe."
Sun cycle on Mount Fuji
Steve McCurry's work depicts the striking Mount Fuji, encapsulating its magnificence from sunrise to sunset. As the sun is at the heart of Japanese mythology, McCurry's shots capture how its radiance brings incredible majesty to such a profoundly significant mountain.
"The colors we perceive in the natural world are influenced by a combination of sunlight, the objects themselves, and atmospheric conditions. The changing light at sunrise or sunset makes Mount Fuji even more magical."
The sun as the ultimate force of life
Shot on the coast in the peak of Australian summer Trent Parke's work strikes a visual dialogue between sea and sun. Here, the ocean forms an abundant canvas for light, casting silhouettes and striking motifs, as well as providing an almost celestial backdrop to the subjects.
"The sun has always been a symbol of the great clock in the sky. The sun is the ultimate force of life."
Nurturing sun
Newsha Tavakolian's pieces are shot in her home country of Iran, depicting the sun's more personal impact on emotions, spirits, and moods. Inspired by the book Conversation in a Garden, by Iranian writer Shahrokh Meskoob, in which two intellectuals discuss Persian gardens to conclude that “the garden is inside you”, Tavakolian focuses on the sun as a force of nurturing and emotional nourishment.
"I see these images as a journey into consciousness. As you grow closer to nature, you become more self-aware, understanding the importance of living authentically. This is the realization that life is lived only once."
The magic of the sun
Brazil’s Cristina de Middel is no stranger to the sun. Among the sand dunes and desert lakes she contrasts the glaring metaphor of a brightly colored balloon and its playful symbolism against a sweeping and ageless desert.
"I am always amazed by how the sun can change the mood of a whole scene and impact our emotions."
Make hay while the sun shines
French artist Olivia Arthur attempts to capture the wistful sentimentality of a fleeting summer. Shooting towards the end of the season, she focused on evocative vignettes of hay bales, dried grass, and the sun casting shade, offering a sense of bucolic calm and palpable nostalgia.
"I wanted to think about the last days of summer sun, when we have sunk into this feeling but need to enjoy it as much as we can before it ends."
Blooming in the sun
Lindokuhle Sobekwa’s photographic series was shot in September in South Africa, marking the beginning of spring in his homeland. Capturing the flourishing of nature and a season saturated in rich color, his photographs depict scenes of a place bursting with energy, fertility, and abundance.
"The Sun gives life to the natural world and provides beautiful golden light. We often say in photography that without light there is no photograph and without the Sun there is no life."
The many suns of Oaxaca
Lindokuhle Sobekwa’s photographic series was shot in September in South Africa, marking the beginning of spring in his homeland. Capturing the flourishing of nature and a season saturated in rich color, his photographs depict scenes of a place bursting with energy, fertility, and abundance.
"The Sun gives life to the natural world and provides beautiful golden light. We often say in photography that without light there is no photograph and without the Sun there is no life."
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