Hennessy is celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year for the first time by honoring not just one symbolic animal, but the whole zodiac in all its variety.
In the hands of modern artist Yan Pei-Ming, a happy party becomes a symbol of openness and hope, with the promise that things will get better after a hard time. Born in born in China and became a French citizen. In many ways, his life story is similar to that of Richard Hennessy, who was born in Ireland and started the company that still bears his name more than 250 years later. Yan’s story is similar to his in that he went off on his own to find adventure, followed a dream, and built a life in a different country.
Having flawlessly integrated into French culture, he graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Dijon and then made that city his home and the center of his work. Yan is known for his portraits of animals and high-profile people. To celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, he made a 6m by 3.5m painting that shows the animal as part of the Chinese zodiac family.
Hennessy is proud to reveal La Grande Course, a painting Yan considers fundamental in his oeuvre. The artwork is a vibrant piece that was partly inspired by an epic story from Hollywood’s “golden age.” It shows the animals of the zodiac galloping together, sending a message of freedom, inclusion, and connection. The artist’s signature broad, sweeping brush strokes give a sense of universality, immediacy, and adventure.
There will be limited Lunar New Year editions of Hennessy V.S.O.P, Hennessy X.O, and Hennessy Paradis cognacs with aspects of this artwork on them. The most important piece in the collection is a one-liter decanter of Hennessy Paradis that was made in collaboration with Maison Bernardaud.
Limoges porcelain, which is known all over the world, is used to make each decanter by hand in the workshop. The decanter was made in a special edition of only 888 pieces, each of which came in a valuable wooden case.
