BEIJING ARTIST XU LEI DESIGNS NEW MOUTON ROTHSCHILD LABEL

MOUTON-ROTHSCHILD HAS RECENTLY ASKED A BEIJING ARTIST, XU LEI, TO DESIGN THE LABEL FOR ITS 2008 VINTAGE, IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GEORGES BRAQUE, SALVADOR DALI OR JOAN MIRO. KEPT UNDER WRAPS UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT, THE PREDOMINANTLY BLUE PAINTING FEATURES A RAM STANDING ON A ROCK AND WAS CHOSEN BY BARONESS PHILIPPINE DE ROTHSCHILD, OWNER OF THE FRENCH CHATEAU AND A PATRON OF THE ARTS. THE BARONESS' FATHER PHILIPPE FIRST ENLISTED AN ARTIST TO DESIGN MOUTON'S LABEL IN 1924, AND EVERY LABEL SINCE 1945 HAS FEATURED A NEW WORK OF ART. THE ARTISTS RECEIVE 10 CASES OF WINE IN LIEU OF MONEY FOR PAYMENT. XU IS THE ART DIRECTOR OF THE TODAY ART MUSEUM, A MAJOR BEIJING CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM. 'IT'S ABOVE ALL ELSE A PERSONAL CHOICE RATHER THAN A COMMERCIAL CHOICE', HERVE BERLAND, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD, TOLD AFP IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. HE SAID THE BARONESS 'GIVES A CHANCE TO ARTIST FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES...CHINA HAS BECOME A MAJOR CONSUMER OF FINE WINE, SO IT SEEMS NATURAL TO SELECT A CHINESE ARTIST.' THE 2008 VINTAGE, STILL RESTING IN MOUTON'S CELLARS IN PAUILLAC IN FRANCE, WILL ARRIVE ON SHOP SHELVES IN FRANCE IN JANUARY AND IN ASIA AND AMERICA IN FEBRUARY.