MARTELL COGNAC LAUNCHES NEW CULTURAL FOUNDATION
Gareth Harris of the Art Newspaper writes that the cognac manufacturer Martell has launched a new cultural foundation, Fondation d’Entreprise Martell, in one of its former bottling factories in Cognac, in western France.
The foundation’s home is the Gatebourse, a famous modernist structure built in 1929. The foundation’s programming, overseen by director Nathalie Viot, will feature projects from the worlds of fine art, design, technology, crafts, and architecture.
An installation by the French artist Vincent Lamouroux, Nature, 2016, inaugurates the new space and will be on view until January 31, 2017. A spokeswoman from Martell said, “It is made of sand, wood, glass crystals, plants—all materials used for the fabrication of the Martell Cognac bottles. The entire piece is covered with white lime, creating an incredible effect. A white halo [of sand] spreads around the work and out under the visitors.”
The foundation’s roof terrace is scheduled to open sometime during the spring of 2018. Updates to the rest of the building should be completed by 2021.
