MACHAS

Delivering happiness all over the world: Ray Oranges x Atelier Cologne

Machas Artist Ray Oranges is renowned for his vibrant geometric art that skilfully blends sophistication and minimalism. What is lesser known is that Ray is a Calabria native and that the Southern Italian region, in particular his father’s orange orchards where he grew up, significantly defined his artistic vision.

Ray’s incomparable use of colour and composition, paired with a shared Mediterranean DNA, seduced Atelier Cologne. The Parisian perfume maison, the first fragrance house entirely dedicated to cologne, fell in love with Ray’s elegant vision and proposed an art collaboration on their most prominent collection: the Advent Calendars and Festive Season collection.

For the Atelier Cologne Luxury and Discovery Advent Calendars, Ray visually captured the essences of the fragrances with a nearly-abstract representation of their citrus core and embraced the warm and magic atmosphere of the Festive Season with Atelier Cologne blue truck driving through evocative, layered landscapes.

In addition to the Advent Calendars, Ray created five artworks to extend the Festive cheer to all the Holiday 2020 campaign and deliver happiness and scented gifts to Paris, Positano, Shanghai and Los Angeles.

From online to packaging, to in-store communications and events, the campaign includes an enchanting animation to lead everyone on a fragrant journey, full with holiday imagination.

““I’m very fond of this collaboration with Atelier Cologne,” says Ray,  “because of the brand’s strong connection with Calabria, where they source the most precious citrus essences for their fragrances”.

“Even though I’ve been living in Florence since my university years and I consider myself a citizen of the world, Calabria is my homeland, it is where my roots are. We all know that Calabria is a land of contrasts, but it was wonderful to celebrate its excellencies and create a sophisticated fil rouge that connects the South of Italy with Paris and the rest of the world.”

“During the production of the artworks, I had a bike accident and had to stay a few days at the hospital. Atelier Cologne sent me a get well card with a present, their Orange Sanguine fragrance.  When I smelled it, it felt like I was being teleported to another time and another place: to my family’s oranges orchards when I was a kid. The fragrance was definitely a source of inspiration, and even if I’ve maintained my minimal approach, I’ve recreated the exact shape of the citruses.”

The advent calendar is already sold out in a few countries, but it’s still available via waiting list.

See more of Ray Oranges’ work here.