François Halard's ‘Details of Exception’ Photography for The Glenrothes

Famed interior photographer François Halard—known for intimate depictions of Cy Twombly, Louise Bourgeois, and Luis Barragán’s spaces—now invites viewers into the homes of John Pawson, Han Chong, and Julie de Libran. In a series for The Glenrothes titled “Details of Exception,” Halard presents both Polaroids and three films shot on his own Bolex 16mm. Within each image, The Glenrothes whiskies have been artfully integrated into the design and architecture of the real settings.

“Collecting and living with objects and with art is like a romance. How an object can lead to an idea. How an object can lead you to a memory. How an object can give you a fantasy. That’s quite fascinating, I think,” Halard says in the film from Chong’s London home. It’s there his camera captures Has the Day Invaded the Night, Or Has the Night Invaded the Day? (2006), a painting by Louise Bourgeois; a 1939 Glass Desk by Gio Ponti for Vetrocoke; and the Tit Teddy Ugo (2014) sculpture by Sarah Lucas.

In the Cotswolds sanctuary of minimalist architectural designer John Pawson, Halard observes that “[details] can tell the truth, because they’re human.” Among those quietly spectacular design details are Pawson’s own Sleeve Pendant Light Lamps, Chair 84 by Donald Judd, a poem written for the designer by Nigerian-British poet and novelist Ben Okri, and Carl Hansen dining chairs.

“For me, the idea of the house, it’s the best autobiography you can have of yourself,” Halard says from the Paris home of couture designer de Libran, founder of her eponymous label (and an alum of Prada, Versace, and Louis Vuitton). As Halard’s camera gazes out at the fashion designer’s wonders, one will observe an Hermès Birkin bag, the Infinito bookcase by Franco Albini for Poggi, and a pair of Italian lamps by Willy Rizzo. One of Halard’s photographs hones in on a portrait of de Libran by David Bailey.

Each piece in the series is a biography of both the space and the individual who occupies it. “What kind of books a person reads, what kind of objects people collect, what kind of art they have on the wall. Those kinds of things could be a reflection of the soul of the people,” Halard adds. It’s an elegant, detailed campaign from The Glenrothes that aligns with the artistry behind the Speyside single malt scotch whisky brand’s releases.