Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota has created the original artwork Universe of Mouton for the label of Château Mouton Rothschild 2021. In her drawing, the fragile silhouette of a human figure faces gorgeous, generous nature. It is not the center of attention but seems small compared to the environment. It is as though the figure is holding onto the balance between nature and humans. Its grip cannot be too tight or the thread will break, nor too loose or else the cloud will blow away and the connection will be broken.
The four threads represent the four seasons, setting time within the artwork’s space. While winter brings loneliness and sadness, the seeds of hope are planted in spring and grow into a summer of richness before coming to fruition in the fall. Whatever the vintage, the drinker is experiencing the conditions the grapes grew in.
“When I visited Château Mouton Rothschild, I was very inspired by their relationship with nature. They depend on the weather and do not interfere with mother nature. They accept the conditions in which the grapes grow. I think Mouton is holding on to the balance of human and nature,’ said Shiota.
Born in Osaka in 1972 and is currently based in Berlin, Shiota’s inspiration often emerges from a personal experience or emotion which she expands into universal human concerns such as life, death and relationship. By collecting ordinary objects such as shoes, keys, beds, chairs and dresses, and engulfing them in immense thread structures, she explores this sensation of a ‘presence in the absence’ with her installations, but also presents intangible emotions in her sculptures, drawings, performance videos, photographs and canvases.
On the occasion of the reveal of the label for Château Mouton Rothschild 2021, Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, in partnership with Christie’s and with the participation of Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, is holding an online auction of an exclusive lot. All the proceeds will go to the Association Antoine Alléno, a charity founded by Yannick Alléno after the tragic death of his son Antoine to help and support the families of young people who have suffered violence at the hands of a third party. The funds will go towards setting up and rolling out a comprehensive support program for afflicted families.
The lot comprises a unique assortment of formats of Château Mouton Rothschild 2021: six bottles, three magnums, a double magnum whose label will be signed by the artist and the family, an imperial and the only Nebuchadnezzar available to date. The acquirer and three guests will also be invited to the reveal of the label for Château Mouton Rothschild 2022, held at the estate in 2024, which will be attended by the family and the artist chosen to illustrate the label for that vintage. They will be given a private tour of Château Mouton Rothschild, followed by a tasting of wines from the estate. Yannick Alléno, who holds fifteen Michelin stars, will also offer the acquirer and three guests an immersive experience at Le Pavillon Ledoyen, his celebrated three-star restaurant in Paris, where they will help to prepare a service with the chef and his team. They will then dine with Yannick Alléno and a member of the family that owns Château Mouton Rothschild, with a menu specially designed to pair perfectly with the great vintages from the estate served during the meal.
The auction opened on 24 November and will close at 5.00pm (GMT +1) on Friday 8 December.
