01 THE ARTIST OF INFINITE BLUE
Animated by a quest to “liberate colour from the prison that is the line”, Yves Klein based his work on the expression of a feeling, driven by a belief that ultramarine blue was the only way to “make visible the absolute”. His bluer-than-blue hue, which he patented as “IKB” (International Klein Blue) in 1960, radiates colourful waves, engaging not only the eyes of the viewer, but in fact allowing us to see with our souls. It is an invitation to experience total chromatic purity and creative freedom.
02 THE MARRIAGE OF TWO MYTHICAL BLUES
More than a perfume, it is a masterstroke that only Guerlain, a House that has made art its “raison d’être” since its foundation in 1828, could orchestrate. A meeting as evident as destiny: that of modern art’s two most iconic blues. L’Heure Bleue and Yves Klein’s vibrant ultramarine. To celebrate the 110th anniversary of L’Heure Bleue, Guerlain showcases the perfume in a prestigious artist edition, limited to 30 unique pieces worldwide, created in partnership with the Yves Klein Archives.
“BLUE HAS NO DIMENSIONS, IT IS BEYOND DIMENSIONS, WHEREAS THE OTHER COLOURS ARE NOT.”
YVES KLEIN
03 THE SCENT OF THE SUSPENDED HOUR
Composed in 1912 by Jacques Guerlain, L’Heure Bleue is the fragrance of suspended time. In it, the Guerlain Perfumer celebrates that fleeting moment when “the night has not yet found its star“. The blues of violet and iris and the creamy ivory of vanilla merge, leaving a bewitching fragrance trail of both fresh and warm nuances. It is with the extrait de parfum, its richest, most highly concentrated and most precious version, that this masterpiece of modern perfumery is celebrated.
“THE SUN HAS SET, BUT NIGHT HAS NOT YET FALLEN. IT’S THE SUSPENDED HOUR… THE HOUR WHEN ONE FINALLY FINDS ONESELF IN RENEWED HARMONY WITH THE WORLD AND THE LIGHT."
JACQUES GUERLAIN
04 TURNING A BOTTLE INTO AN ICON OF MODERN ART
With the spectacular 110th Anniversary Edition, the iconic “inverted heart” bottle is transcended. Produced in a 1.5-litre format and entirely covered in International Klein Blue, the bottle is turned into an artwork. An artwork in ultramarine, whose sensual curves take on the deep, matte, velvety finish of the artist’s famous blue monochromes. Transcended by IKB, the bottle becomes a sculpture, adorned with the same pure, velvety blue as the sky when the “blue hour” that inspired L’Heure Bleue spreads its magic.
05 THE COLOUR OF THE ABSOLUTE, FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE TRAIL
Entirely handcrafted by an artisan, each of the 30 pieces is unique. A genuine work of art, produced by using the same process as Yves Klein. Each piece takes a whole day to execute. The bottle is entirely covered with International Klein Blue (IKB), first applied with a brush. Then, it is spraypainted with several layers of IKB to obtain the same matte, velvety finish as the artist’s blue monochrome sculptures, as though the pure pigment itself coats the surface of the glass.
“BLUE SUGGESTS THE SEA AND SKY, AND THEY, AFTER ALL, ARE IN ACTUAL, VISIBLE NATURE WHAT IS MOST ABSTRACT.“
YVES KLEIN
