Untitled - Hennessy

OS GEMEOS:
THE CONTEXT OF COLOR
Os Gemeos, the Brazilian-born stars of street art, source inspiration for their color-rich and multi-faceted
work from their hometown. The brothers, identical twins Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo, began their career as
graffiti artists in the 198Os on the streets of São Paolo. Today, they boast an extensive contemporary body
of work ranging from murals, frescoes, paintings and sculptures to mixed-media installations incorporating
music and dance. Os Gemeos grew up in Brazil’s break-dancing scene in the 8Os and bathed in the hip-hop and
DJ culture of the 9Os during their formative teen years and music has had important repercussions on their
work since the brothers embarked on their creative voyage.
Os Gemeos are firmly rooted in São Paolo, which they describe as a city of contrasts, and where they continue
to live and work today. The city, say the twins, shaped them into the artists they are today. “We grew up
playing in the streets and we learned a lot from those days. You’re on the street playing soccer and you see
one person doing graffiti, another one break dancing and another building toys out of wood. In that context,
we had to improvise,” explain Os Gemeos. And improvise they did. “We began creating our own world and started
painting to escape from the city and its daily stress. You never know what will happen next. We had to learn
to live in this environment.” The perpetually optimistic yet realistic, playful and colourful work that has
come to characterize Os Gemeos is a reflection of the diverse urban environment in which they were raised.
The twins’ closeness, of a rare intensity, is perhaps the most important element that fuels
and enriches their existence as artists. Os Gemeos had shared visions that they would often
draw together. This creative union melds the force of two talents into one—their artwork.
“WE LIVE IN OUR DREAM
WORLD TWENTY-FOUR HOURS
A DAY AND THROUGH OUR
CREATIONS WE PUT OUTSIDE
WHAT WE HAVE FOUND INSIDE”
Os Gemeos refer to their artistic evolution as a work in progress, an ongoing
experiment, with a myriad of unexplored mediums and untapped inspirations. “You
have to find a window, open it, then find another and open that one too. For us, that’s what life is about
—continually opening new windows.” These windows are also a reference to the ethereal space where the twins
inhabit a world of visions all of their own. “We live in our dream world twenty-four hours a day and through
our creations we put outside what we have found inside,” they explain.
Os Gemeos have had major exhibitions throughout the world since 1999 and had their first major solo museum
exhibition in the US at The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston in 2O12.
www.hennessy.com/osgemeos/pr
NOT FOR FRANCE
THE MEETING:
OS GEMEOS & HENNESSY
The partnership between Os Gemeos and Hennessy was written in the cards. Leonard McGurr, aka Futura—partner
for the previous Hennessy Very Special Limited Edition—was the first to recommend that the Brazilian
contemporary artists work with the cognac maker. Indeed, he saw that the two parties are a natural fit when
it comes to their values and their shared passion for craftsmanship. Even from a color perspective—the
hues of the eaux-de-vie that are blended to make cognac, and the yellow, red and brown shades found in Os
Gemeos’ work, could be two sides to the same mirror.
The passion and energy infused into each creation is also a shared trait—Os Gemeos’ intense pace of creative
exploration is a match for Hennessy’s quest for the perfect blend. In terms of their work, the twins
relentlessly seek to break new ground and move beyond any semblance of routine, embarking on new artistic
endeavours in a multitude of mediums.
The devotion to craftsmanship and the sense of place are also linchpins in Hennessy’s and Os Gemeos’ work—
the artists would not be who they are today without their São Paolo roots, just as Hennessy would not be
the Maison it has become without its heritage in Cognac, France.
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NOT FOR FRANCE
CREATION
OF THE LABEL
“We love experimenting. This project represented a new medium for us—one where we could change the tradition
into something contemporary, colorful” explain Os Gemeos. The twins found inspiration for the label, which
they describe as a “happy and colorful landscape where everything is connected,” after learning about
Hennessy’s history and the importance of the art of blending for the Maison.
Os Gemeos also identified similarities while spending time in Cognac delving into the world of Hennessy.
“Everything at Hennessy,” they explained, “is about passion and the passage of time.”
Os Gemeos insist that while they have a personal vision of their creation for Hennessy Very Special, it is for
each viewer to see and interpret the label with their own sensibility. “It’s more interesting to let people
see for themselves than for us to explain; seeing for yourself sparks the imagination,” they conclude.
HISTORY
Quintessentially Hennessy, Hennessy Very Special is a reference in the art of blending for its unique style.
Hennessy Very Special is the modern incarnation of Hennessy’s Three Star and the world’s most popular
Cognac. The union of warm-hearted and full-bodied flavors, Hennessy Very Special endures through the ages
and seduces connoisseurs searching for a very special moment.
TASTING NOTES
The Power of Blending
On the nose, Hennessy Very Special brings together an intense and fruity character with pleasant oaky notes.
In the mouth, powerful flavors evoke grilled almonds, supported by the fresh, lively notes of the grapes.
Fundamentally Hennessy
Demanding in its creation, yet immediately satisfying in its tasting, Hennessy Very Special marks its inimitable
style across time. As a reflection of Hennessy’s know-how, Very Special’s audacious personality is the result of
carefully selecting only the most expressive and distinctive eaux-de-vie. After several years of maturation in
French oak casks, the eaux-de-vie are then blended with the mastery and consistency unique to the Maison Hennessy.
A Unique Moment
Share Hennessy Very Special to create a unique tasting moment. Savor it neat, on ice or with a mixer and
reveal its character.
www.hennessy.com/osgemeos/pr
NOT FOR FRANCE
www.hennessy.com/osgemeos/pr
NOT FOR FRANCE