The Art Of Biodiversity: How French Artist Eva Jospin Embodies Nature In Her Works For Ruinart’s Cart Blanche 2023

Nature speaks. So does art. And those who listen, hear what is has to say. So did French contemporary artist Eva Jospin, who transformed her impressions from Reims and the Champagne region (the home of Ruinart) into meaningful works of art for her collaboration with Ruinart’s annual artistic commission: Carte Blanche 2023, which is being presented at Art Basel this week.

Through a series of artworks (drawings, sculptures and embroideries), she invites each of us to immerse ourselves in this landscape, as if plunging into a mysterious story intertwining the cycles of history and plants, life and creation. The site of the Montagne de Reims appeared to Eva Jospin like a cross-sectional landscape, as composed of different geological and temporal strata, real and imaginary.

Eva Jospin became very passionate about the richness of the Champagne region and the know-how transmitted there: from the underground world of Ruinart’s crayères to the roots and interlacing vines; from the rich history, such as the coronation of the kings of France in Reims Cathedral to the ennoblement of the Ruinart family under Charles X; and from the conversion of the old chalk quarries into cellars to the Maison’s expanded commitment to supporting biodiversity.

„Before the female artist started working on her commission for Ruinart’s Carte Blanche 2023, she was invited to spend time in the vineyards of the champagne maison and immerse herself into the beautiful nature and rich history Ruinart has to offer“, Fabien Vallérian, Ruinart’s International Director for Arts & Culture explains.

„Eva Jospin first French artist in 8 years for our Carte Blanche and a woman who is dedicated to creating large-scale pieces evoking nature and landscape. We were following her work with great attention since I joined Ruinart in 2018 and it took time but we made it happen. What is so special about this year is the balance between using a very raw and basic material (carboard) that is sublimated by the high level of craftsmanship of the artist’s hand. I like this very unique encounter of the simple with sophisticated, of the hand with the mind paying tribute to the beauty of the landscape in the Champagne region.“ Vallérian continues.

In her work, the meticulousness of the details is combined with a monumental dimension that lends itself to an immersive experience.

Eva Jospin also works on other practices, notably drawing with Indian ink. She also gradually explored other forms like grottoes and nymphaea, reflecting her interest in Renaissance architecture and gardens, while integrating novel materials, including bronze or copper wire, and new techniques like embroidery.

Ruinart Jeroboam Blanc de Blancs – Limited Edition by Eva Jospin

As part of her artistic reinterpretation of Maison Ruinart, Eva Jospin has also created a collection case around a Jeroboam of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs. The artist has transformed the wooden box containing the bottle: Custom-made as for a real work of art, fastened by leather straps, it opens onto the scene of a crayère in miniature, sculpted out of layers of cardboard. The bottle is inscribed inside this recessed landscape, a metaphor for the making of champagne and its fermentation sheltered from light. As the guest artist for Ruinart’s Carte Blanche 2023, Eva Jospin shared her vision of the Maison’s terroir and designed a limited edition creative artwork for a jeroboam of Blanc de Blancs.

Ruinart’s commitment to sustainability and expressing it through Art

By using a very raw material like cardboard, Eva Jospin also links her works to the impeccable and unique sustainable commitments and initiatives of Maison Ruinart. It’s a very great way communicating those values through art and giving back, not only to nature but also to humans.

Fabien Vallérian, explains the brand’s vision for next years, leading up to the 300 year anniversary of the Ruinart: „I think Ruinart is building a unique intersection between nature and art and that is totally legitimate because our product comes from nature itself so we have to pay attention to the soil, the vines, the biodiversity, the energy, the packaging, the transportation etc. We experience the global warming consequences as wine-makers. I also believe that artists are our best ambassadors to deliver efficiently the message about sustainability. My vision is that we will keep on spreading the message of hope, joy and inspiration and help protect the planet with our commitment to the arts.

Nature expresses itself. Our vineyard in Taissy, FR is the best example.We have built vitiforestry initiatives like planting 20.000 trees and bushes. We are constantly creating habitats for wildlife, taking charge of the nearby forests too to help enrich the soil and biodiversity in and around our area. Art is a powerful tool to engage viewers and make them think and react. Our aim is to enlighten life by understanding our connections to nature through the lens of art. I like the idea to include more artworks in our vineyard and forests like we did last year with land-artist Nils Udo.”

Eva Jospins’s art works for Ruinart will be displayed at the Ruinart Booth inside Art Basel’s Collector’s Lounge during this week’s fair in Basel and will travel to several more locations and art fairs, the maison is committed to throughout the year.