Collaboration Between Ruinart and Erwin Olaf

Maison Ruinart, the oldest champagne house in the world, collaborates with a successful artist every year. This time, with Dutch pride photographer Erwin Olaf.

Olaf was inspired by the crayères, the prehistoric cellars of the champagne house in Reims (France). The photographer decided to focus on the details of these cellars, such as the centuries-old natural and human traces that are still visible. The result is a photo series of 26 black-and-white images.

“Like champagne, photographs need darkness to find the light” Erwin Olaf

Normally, tension is visible in Olaf’s characters and portraits, but this series is very serene. As if time had stood still. In addition to the photographs, the photographer also designed a cellar case, an elegant chest for storing wine.

Want to see Olaf’s works? Then you’ll have to travel a little, because the photographs will tour the whole world this year. In Berlin, the photographs will be on display on 28 April during Berlin Gallery Weekend, or you can see them in Milan on 7 and 8 April at Miart.

Ruinart has been producing champagne since 1729, making it the oldest champagne house. In 1963, the house came into the hands of Moët & Chandon, now part of the LVMH group.

Text: Nora van den Heuvel
Image: Erwin Olaf