What happens when a street art legend and a legendary spirit maker come together? Hennessy Cognac is the world’s most widely consumed Cognac, and Futura is one of the most popular names in graffiti art on the planet. Together they have collaborated to create the Hennessy V.S. Limited Edition by Futura release. With only 1,500 bottles to hit the shelves across Ontario, Futura was in Toronto this week to mark the Canadian release of this special edition bottle, both literally and artistically.
The Drake Sky Yard was abuzz with a sub-cultured crew of Futura fans to watch this mogul of the alternative art form create a piece of history alongside his Hennessy release. The New York artist who has been blasting through cans of spray paint since the ‘70s was on hand to create a live installment using his signature abstract style over a series of Hennessy boxes that once contained his personally designed bottles.
“The possibilities are extremely inspirational,” says Futura. “For this bottle, I wanted to create art that was completely unique yet true to myself, and I think the result is art that complements both the bottle and the Cognac, and as a visual object, the bottle fits right in with my artistic world. It was a truly great creative collaboration.”
Following a distinctive style that uses his “atomic” signature, bright colours and abstract lines that mimic some of the themes he used for the label itself, Futura drew stares of awe and curiosity from the crowd as he sprayed his latest art piece before our eyes. With a smoke in his mouth and a look of storied calm, he completed two similar pieces – one of which will be framed and found at the Drake in the near future.
“I wanted to do something that had never been done before, which of course affected my choice of colour,” explains the artist. Futura came up with a warm, complementary colour palette based on an amber ground, and used energetic splashes of yellow to capture the movement of Cognac swirling in a glass.
With the beautiful bottles on display, some live spinning tunes and a trio of Hennessy cocktails on offer, it was a fitting way to welcome this special collaboration to the city.
You can find the Hennessy V.S. Limited Edition by Futura bottles at some of the larger LCBOs throughout Toronto (ex. Summerhill and Queens Quay) while supplies last – probably not for long – for the regular price of $59.95.
Photos by KALENHAYMAN.COM.
